Roche launches new diagnostic test for syphilis

Roche has announced the launch of Elecsys Syphilis immunoassay, a new diagnostic test that has been granted European CE Mark approval.

The immunoassay is designed to help detect patients infected with syphilis in routine clinical practice and to make sure donated blood is not infected with syphilis. It offers high sensitivity and thus minimises the likelihood of missing infections.

Healthcare professionals in laboratories can efficiently run a single test within 18 minutes, ensuring the safe and timely supply of blood products. Additionally, its high specificity facilitates a clear interpretation of results at all disease stages, with a minimal need for re-testing.

Although most new syphilis cases occur in developing countries, the sexually-transmitted disease has re-emerged as a health concern in a number of developed nations over the past decade.

Roland Diggelmann, chief operating officer of Roche's diagnostics division, said: "We strive for continual improvement to meet laboratories' and blood banks' evolving needs, expanding our menu offering and providing integrated solutions to improve testing reliability, safety and efficiency."

This comes after the company received CE Mark approval for a new dual-target HIV-1 qualitative test last month.