cobas^® Cdiff Test

Molecular detection moves C. difficile testing forward

Traditional methods for identification of Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) include toxigenic culture, which is labor intensive and slow, and enzyme immunoassays (EIA), which have limited sensitivity. Algorithms have been developed using combinations of EIA testing to overcome shortcomings of individual assays.¹ However, these algorithms may introduce delays in reporting results to physicians, which adversely impacts patient management.

Molecular technologies (including nucleic acid amplification tests [NAAT]) offer better sensitivity and turnaround time in identifying toxigenic C. difficile when compared to several other approaches (glutamate dehydrogenase [GDH] assay, toxin A and B immunoassay, cell culture cytotoxicity neutralization assay), either alone or in combination.¹

In recent years, the frequency and severity of C. difficile-associated disease has continued to increase, prompting a need for rapid and reliable C. difficile testing, particularly in vulnerable elderly populations. By rapidly detecting C. difficile in patient stool samples, the cobas Cdiff Test* combines high assay sensitivity with rapid turnaround time and a minimum number of pre-analytic steps, to facilitate earlier intervention of patients suffering from C. difficile-associated disease.

cobas® Cdiff Test on the cobas® 4800 System combines high assay sensitivity with rapid turnaround time and a minimum number of pre-analytic steps. Accurate and timely detection of C. difficile in patient stool samples facilitates earlier intervention for more effective infection control and transmission prevention.

The cobas^® Cdiff Test demonstrated superior performance compared to direct culture cytotoxicity testing in a study of 682 samples.²

• Selective detection of a specific difficile toxin gene directly from uniformed stool samples using real-time PCR technology
• Detection of a broad array of toxinotypes and ribotypes
• Robust results generated automatically, using patented, state-of-the-art algorithms

Accuracy delivered efficiently

The cobas® Cdiff Test requires only 3 simple steps for sample prep, minimizing sample handling.

The cobas^® Cdiff Test requires up to 70% less hands-on time than competitor platforms. ³

The cobas® 4800 System offers flexibility with parallel sample processing capabilities. cobas® Cdiff samples can be run with different tests and sample types in one run, including:

• Stool (cobas^® Cdiff Test)
• Nasal (cobas^® MRSA/SA Test)
• Anogenital lesions (cobas^® HSV 1 and 2 Test)

The cobas® Cdiff Test on the cobas® 4800 System is an automated, qualitative in vitro diagnostic test, that utilizes real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for the direct detection of the toxin B (tcdB) gene of toxigenic Clostridium difficile in unformed (liquid or soft) stool specimens obtained from patients suspected of having C. difficile infection (CDI). The cobas® Cdiff Test is intended for use as an aid in the diagnosis of CDI in humans in conjunction with clinical and epidemiological risk factors.