Luminex announces group B strep as fifth assay planned for launch menu of ARIES

Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX) today announced that Group B Streptococcus (group B strep, GBS) is the fifth assay planned for the launch menu of its new sample-to-answer system, ARIES™. The assay will complement Luminex's growing portfolio of ASR and IVD products. Previously announced items in the five assay launch menu targeted for the ARIES system include: Flu A/B and RSV, HSV 1&2, Norovirus, and Clostridium difficile (C. diff).

 "ARIES represents the next generation of sample-to-answer testing, simplifying workflow, and delivering accurate rapid results," said Patrick J. Balthrop, president and chief executive officer of Luminex. "Early detection of group B strep in pregnant women is important to prevent serious disease in infants. Our expanding menu of assays, universal protocol and flexible random batch capability provide unmatched ease of use and versatility for today's laboratories. Every day, we work to develop solutions that advance science and improve health." 

Infection with Group B Streptococcus is a leading cause of meningitis, pneumonia, and septicemia in newborns. GBS is a type of bacteria that can cause illness in people of all ages; however, it is the most common cause of some life-threatening infections in newborns. Women colonized with GBS during pregnancy are at increased risk of transmitting the bacteria to their newborn infant during labor and delivery. CDC's guidelines recommend that a pregnant woman be screened for group B strep when she is 35 to 37 weeks pregnant.¹

ARIES GBS assay will deliver automated, sensitive results faster than culture methods, which can take several days for results and may require sub-culture to detect all strains. The ARIES GBS platform will deliver a streamlined workflow and generate rapid results with little hands-on time.

With a strong track record as an innovator and a leader in molecular diagnostics, Luminex Corporation will soon be the first company to offer multiplexed molecular panels as well as rapid, sample-to-answer testing with the introduction of its new ARIES system and menu of assays. 

Luminex is featuring its new ARIES System at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) May 10–13, booth #23 and at the upcoming American Society for Microbiology (ASM), May 17–20 in Boston, Massachusetts, booth #613.