NEWS RELEASE
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics
System: Positive Trial Results Reported
Unique System Proven to Improve Laboratory Workflow and Productivity at
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
NYON, SWITZERLAND — (13 October 2015) — Beckman Coulter is pleased to announce
the results of recently commissioned independent trials of the new DxN VERIS Molecular
Diagnostics System* which showed enhanced workflow and productivity over incumbent
systems.
A UK trial was undertaken within The Department of Virology at Sheffield Teaching
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, whose annual automated workload is approximately
105,000 serology samples (more than 300,000 tests) and 65,000 samples for molecular
testing (around 129,000 tests), as well as 60,000 samples for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea
testing.
“In the last year, the department’s total workload has grown by 57% and the Hepatitis B
virus (HBV) viral load workload alone has increased by over 500%. At the same time
there are demands for new targets and assays, with a drive to convert from traditional
microbiology culture tests to molecular assays”, said Duncan Whittaker, Laboratory
Manager Virology. “In addition to this expanding workload, there is also pressure to offer
services 7 days per week without additional funding, increasing competition from other
private and public laboratories and, peculiar to Sheffield, unprecedented staffing issues
resulting in the loss of experienced staff. In effect, the laboratory has to achieve more
with less, making workflow improvements and efficient use of staff, time and resources
essential if service improvement objectives and user expectations are to be met.
“The Beckman Coulter DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics System promised to offer
workflow advantages for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV)*. Together, these particular
viral load assays represent a significant proportion of the laboratory’s total workload.
“DxN VERIS consolidates DNA extraction, amplification and detection within a single
automated instrument. By reducing manual intervention, and automating the steps from
sample loading to reporting of results, this system has the potential to revolutionise
laboratory workflows and reduce time to results”, Whittaker continued.
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Prior to the DxN VERIS evaluation, three different methods were used for HBV, HCV, HIV1 and CMV viral load assays at Sheffield, with separate extraction and amplification
platforms for each. These methods had instrumentation in at least two, and up to four
different rooms, depending on the assay, and involved a large number of manual steps and
consumables. The requirement for staff to move between rooms is inefficient and the
need to take samples off the extraction platform manually and load them on to the
amplification system also requires valuable staff time.
The DxN VERIS assays are supplied in a unique single cartridge system, which saves
further time and effort. All the consumables and reagents required are on-board, which
reduces set-up time and, unlike traditional batch-plate systems, there are no empty wells,
which reduces wastage and consumable costs. With true single sample random access and
short assay runtimes (as little as 70 minutes to first result), the DxN VERIS platform
allows viral load assays to be performed as soon as they arrive in the laboratory,
potentially ensuring faster turnaround times (TAT). By comparison, the DxN VERIS
Molecular Diagnostics System is a much simpler process, involving fewer steps and
consumables. In addition, since extraction, amplification and detection are consolidated
onto a single automated platform, there is no need to move between rooms or to stand
over the system to transfer samples between functions.
“Hands on time requirements were measured specifically for the HIV-1 and CMV assays.
If these two assays alone were consolidated onto the DxN VERIS it would save around 2
hours manual time per day. If all four parameters were consolidated onto the DxN VERIS
system, it is estimated that this would ultimately save at least 0.6 whole time equivalent
(WTE) biomedical scientists”, said Whittaker.
An independent time/workflow analysis study was performed by Nexus Global Solutions
(Plano, Texas, USA), comparing the workflows and time to results between the existing
platforms and the DxN VERIS for HBV, HCV, HIV and CMV. DxN VERIS samples were run
as single sample random access which meant that, even if samples arrived in the late
afternoon, they could be loaded straight on to the system, which is much faster than daily
batch testing. Analysis of complexity of use determined that existing methods required
29 or 30 steps, whereas the DxN VERIS methods required only 11 steps
In conclusion, Whittaker commented “Following the workflow analysis study, the
improved workflow and time savings that can be achieved using the DxN VERIS could
have an enormous impact on the challenges faced by the laboratory. The reduced manual
intervention required for DxN VERIS would allow more work to be performed per
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member of staff. The more efficient workflow would free staff to perform other tasks,
which would allow us to develop new services and further increase the department’s test
repertoire. This, and improved turnaround times, would help us to remain competitive in
an increasingly competitive environment.”
For further information about the DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics System* and a copy of
the full Sheffield case study that was published in Pathology in Practice, Volume 16, Issue
3, August 2015, please contact: Tiffany Page, Senior Pan European Marketing Manager
Molecular Diagnostics, Email: [email protected] or visit
www.beckmancoulter.com/moleculardiagnostics.
*Not for sale or distribution in the U.S.; not available in all markets.
About Beckman Coulter
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics develops clinical diagnostic products that help advance and
optimise the clinical laboratory. Beckman Coulter’s instruments, systems and tests help
streamline processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and speed the delivery of results.
For 80 years, Beckman Coulter has been a global leader devoted to providing solutions
to laboratories of all sizes—offering a broad portfolio of chemistry, immunoassay,
haematology, urinalysis, microbiology, automation, information systems and molecular
diagnostics. Beckman Coulter is dedicated to advancing healthcare for every person and
moving science, innovation and the lab forward. For more information, visit
www.beckmancoulter.com.
About the DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics System and Assays
The DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics System is a fully automated sample‐to‐answer
instrument for the quantitative analysis of molecular targets. It integrates sample
introduction, nucleic acid extraction, reaction setup, real‐time PCR amplification and
detection (using TaqMan** chemistry), and results interpretation for a fully streamlined
workflow. A sample tube is simply loaded onto the DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics
System and all steps after that are performed automatically, giving molecular diagnostics
laboratories the freedom and control to provide the right answers at the right time.
The growing menu of assays for use on the DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics System
includes the CE-marked DxN VERIS CMV Assay (for the quantitative determination of
human Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in plasma), DxN VERIS HBV Assay (for quantitative
measurement of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in human plasma and serum) and DxN VERIS
HCV Assay (for quantitative measurement of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in human plasma
and DxN VERIS HIV-1 Assay (for quantitative detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus
type 1 (HIV-1) in plasma). Beckman Coulter is committed to ongoing growth and aims to
rapidly expand the DxN VERIS Molecular Diagnostics System menu and has many other
assays in development.
*Not for sale or distribution in the U.S.; not available in all markets.
** TaqMan® is a registered trademark of Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. Used under
permission and license.
Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, DxN and VERIS are trademarks of Beckman Coulter,
Inc. Beckman Coulter and the stylized logo are registered in the USPTO.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
Photo attached, caption: Trial results show the DxN VERIS System provides enhanced
workflow and productivity.
For more information on this and other Beckman Coulter molecular diagnostic
products please contact:
Tiffany Page, Sr. Pan EU Marketing Manager, Beckman Coulter Molecular
Diagnostics
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44(0) 7979 832 190
For information about other Beckman Coulter Diagnostics products please contact:
Laura Bright, Global Public Relations Manager, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +00(1) 714 961 3909
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