Lab‐in‐a‐tube: Real‐time molecular point‐of‐care diagnostics for influenza A and B using the cobas® Liat® system

Rapid diagnosis of influenza A and B is important for direct treatment decisions in patient care and for the reduction of in‐hospital transmissions. The new real‐time PCR based molecular point‐of‐care (POC) assay, the cobas® Influenza A/B test on the cobas® Liat® System (cobas® Liat® Influenza A/B assay), generated a PCR result in less than 20 min, was evaluated for the detection of influenza A and B. One hundred twenty‐one retrospectively collected respiratory specimens, previously analyzed with a routine influenza A/B test (Diagenode) were tested using the cobas® Liat® Influenza A/B assay. The cobas® Liat® Influenza A/B assay allows influenza A and B testing by RT‐PCR within 20 min. This assay detected influenza A in 51 of 56 samples positive by the Diagenode test. The five discrepant results were retested with the Cepheid Influenza A/B test, confirming two positive cases. All 30 influenza B Diagenode positive samples were found positive by the cobas® Liat® Influenza A/B assay. Control samples (viral negative and non‐influenza pathogens) were all negative by the cobas® Liat® Influenza A/B assay. The cobas® Liat® Influenza A/B assay showed a sensitivity for influenza A/B of 96% and 100%, respectively, and 100% specificity for both targets. The cobas® Liat® Influenza A/B assay is a useful tool for accurate, rapid, and sensitive detection of influenza A and B, offering timely and personalized patient management and infection control when implemented at the point‐of‐care.