BD Diagnostics has launched the BD Max Automated Molecular Diagnostic System and BD Max GBS Assay - the first in a range of infectious-disease assays for hospitals and laboratories.
The BD Max system is a fully automated workstation designed to offer on-demand and batch testing to accommodate varying workloads.
The system enables users to develop their own fully automated assays on the open-architecture system.
Philippe Jacon, president, BD Diagnostics, Diagnostic Systems, said: 'The BD Max System will help hospitals and laboratories meet their expanding needs for screening and testing for these pathogens.' The system can be operated by any lab technician and does not require specialised molecular skills or lab facilities.
It can concurrently process different assays for up to 24 patient samples, typically producing results within two and half hours.
It can also provide on-demand processing of up to four samples in under 90min.
The open-platform design and general-purpose reagents offer flexibility for implementation of fully automated laboratory-developed assays for DNA and RNA testing.
The availability of the CE marked BD Max Assay for detection of Group B Streptococci in pregnant women will help enable clinicians to take appropriate action to colonised patients, to minimise the risk of infection to the mother or infant at childbirth.
