A partnership between Randox Laboratories, the UK’s largest manufacturer of in-vitro diagnostics, and the German technology giant Bosch is changing the way doctors will treat patients with antibiotics, with the launch of a revolutionary product – the Vivalytic.

It’s estimated that 20% of antibiotics currently prescribed are unnecessary, and fuel the growing threat of global antibiotic resistance. This threatens the ability to treat common infectious diseases, and a growing number are becoming harder, and in some cases impossible, to treat. The World Health Organisation warns that without action, we are heading towards a post-antibiotic era.

This problem is being addressed by the Vivalytic. The result of a decade of R&D, it is an intuitive point-of-care analyser that, depending on the complexity of the test, will deliver results from 30 minutes: enabling doctors to select the right course of therapy faster than before. In some cases, this will be life-saving.

The first tests available on the Vivalytic are Randox’s panels for respiratory and sexually-transmitted infections*.

Using Randox’s patented Biochip Array Technology, the Respiratory Multiplex Array simultaneously reports on 22 viral and bacterial pathogens including Bordetella pertussis and parapertussis which causes whooping cough – without the need for secondary or confirmatory testing to inform clinical treatment decisions. The STI array enables the detection of 10 STIs from a single sample. Every day more than 1 million STIs are acquired, and many have mild if any symptoms at all. Identifying these infections correctly first time reduces the misuse of antibiotics and supports their targeted use.

The Managing Director of Randox Dr Peter FitzGerald commented:

“Antibiotic stewardship is a critical issue which we all have a responsibility to embrace and drive forward. This partnership is ideal, combining our expertise in molecular laboratory diagnostics with Bosch’s cutting-edge engineering. The Vivalytic is a game-changer for clinicians and patients: never before has there been this level of accessibility to this range of molecular diagnostics.”

Marc Meier, General Manager of Bosch Healthcare Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bosch Group, said:

“We are enthusiastic about having gained Randox as the first partner on our platform with two initial panels available from the start. It´s the beginning of jointly expanding the Vivalytic test portfolio for our clients.  In this partnership the core competencies of Bosch in automation, miniaturization, and networking are complemented by Randox’s expertise in developing and commercializing innovative diagnostic solutions.”

Vivalytic and the panels will be presented to industry professionals for the first time at the ECCMID 2018 Congress in Madrid, Spain, in hall 10, booth 55A between 21^st – 24^th April.

*CE pending and FDA planned.

For further information about the Vivalytic, please contact randoxpr@randox.com