"This is very similar to a previous NIAID-funded program conducted on tuberculosis, which supported development of six-color fluorescent detection and reagents-on-board," said David Persing, M.D., Ph.D., Cepheid's Chief Medical and Technology Officer. "We considered that program to be a win-win because some of our tests, in addition to the MTB/RIF test, now employ six-color detection technology. We expect to see similar benefits — both direct and indirect — as a function of this new program, and expect to be able to fully leverage our capabilities in the areas of nested amplification and multiplex PCR pursuant to the next generation of GeneXpert products."

About the GeneXpert® System Molecular Diagnostic PlatformThe GeneXpert System is a closed, self-contained, fully-integrated and automated platform that represents a paradigm shift in the automation of molecular analysis, producing accurate results in a timely manner with minimal risk of contamination. The GeneXpert System is the only system to combine on-board sample preparation with real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification and detection functions for fully integrated and automated nucleic acid analysis. The system is designed to purify, concentrate, detect, and identify targeted nucleic acid sequences thereby delivering answers directly from unprocessed samples. Modular in design, the GeneXpert System has a variety of configurations to meet the broad range of testing demands found in clinical environments.