The Diagnostics Division of Siemens Healthcare has announced the U.S. availability of its ADVIA Centaur Syphilis assay to be used as an aid in the disease’s diagnosis. The assay, which allows for sensitive and specific detection of antibodies to the proteins of Treponema pallidum in human serum or plasma (EDTA, lithium or sodium heparinized, sodium citrate), is available on the company’s ADVIA Centaur, ADVIA Centaur XP and ADVIA Centaur CP immunoassay systems. It is not intended for blood and tissue donor screening.
Use of a treponemal assay as the initial assay followed by a non-treponemal test (a reverse testing algorithm) has been shown to increase detection of both early primary and late-latent infections that would have been missed using a traditional testing approach (using a non-treponemal, e.g., RPR, as the initial assay).1 Also, unlike manual syphilis testing methods, the automated Siemens assay helps improve laboratory workflow efficiency and testing accuracy and reliability.
The ADVIA Centaur Syphilis assay reduces testing turn-around time, even when compared to the other automated syphilis assays currently available in the U.S. market.2,3 Results are delivered in approximately 29 minutes on the ADVIA Centaur and ADVIA Centaur XP systems and approximately 26 minutes on the ADVIA Centaur CP systems, compared to turnaround times of 40 minutes or more for the two other FDA-cleared automated tests currently on the market.
Syphilis is primarily acquired by sexual contact, but can also be transmitted from mother to fetus. Vertical transmission results in the significant potential for birth defects and fetal death. Early identification of syphilis infection in pregnant women can significantly reduce risk of transmission to the fetus through treatment with antibiotic. Syphilis can represent a diagnostic challenge due to diverse signs and symptoms which can mimic other disease states, or through lack of any clinical manifestations. Before the advent of serological testing, precise diagnosis was very difficult. If untreated, syphilis can cause serious effects such as damage of the heart, aorta, brain, eyes, and bones. In some cases these effects can be fatal.4
For further information on the ADVIA Centaur Syphilis assay please visit http://www.usa.siemens.com/torch-and-special-id
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Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of combined cycle turbines for power generation, a leading provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions and automation and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading supplier of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2013, which ended on September 30, 2013, revenue from continuing operations totaled €75.9 billion and income from continuing operations €4.2 billion. At the end of September 2013, Siemens had around 362,000 employees worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
