ProtonDx, an in vitro diagnostic company designing, manufacturing and marketing rapid, accurate, multi‑pathogen, point‑of‑need diagnostic solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with commercial POCT provider Katalyst Laboratories, to distribute ProtonDx’s Dragonfly rapid in vitro diagnostic system.
Under the terms of the agreement, ProtonDx has granted Katalyst exclusive rights to the distribution of Dragonfly multi‑pathogen detection system in a variety of Katalyst client segments. Katalyst has focused on providing disruptive diagnostic solutions that deliver customer‑centric services to meet the needs of the rapidly evolving diagnostics landscape, making the company an ideal partner for the new Dragonfly system.
Bob Enck, Chairman and President of ProtonDx, stated: “I am pleased to announce our strategic partnership with Katalyst for the distribution of our proven Dragonfly diagnostic system. Katalyst is leading the evolution of in‑field diagnostic testing for the film and TV production industries, providing ready access to novel diagnostic solutions to support operational continuity for these people‑centric businesses. Dragonfly is a potential game‑changer in the diagnostics industry ‑ providing rapid and accurate results, irrespective of location.”
Timely pathogen determination, wherever it is needed, can also help mitigate unnecessary usage of antibiotics and therefore, play a role in helping to address the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Dragonfly enables cost‑effective multi‑pathogen detection, using proprietary ultrafast nucleic acid extraction and isothermal detection, achieving PCR‑equivalent sensitivity and specificity in less than 30 minutes from sample to result.
Andrew Wheeler, co‑founder and CEO of Katalyst Laboratories, said: “Dragonfly offers robust infectious disease detection and testing capability at the point‑of‑need. We are excited to be working with the expert team at ProtonDx and distributing this stand‑out solution that can deliver high‑quality molecular diagnostic testing anywhere. By facilitating robust, accurate and reliable point‑of‑need testing, Dragonfly complements our comprehensive range of testing solutions.”
A number of pathogen identification Test Panels are available on the Dragonfly platform, including the 5‑in‑1 Respiratory Test Panel. Respiratory tract infections often exhibit similar symptoms and thus require accurate diagnostic differentiation to ensure that patients receive appropriate treatment. The multi‑pathogen Dragonfly panel is intended to aid in the identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), Influenza A Virus (IAV), Influenza B Virus (IBV), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Rhinovirus (HRV) in samples from patients regardless of gender or age.
Dragonfly’s reliability, ease‑of‑use, and portability have been validated by its successful deployment at the Winter Olympic Games and the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK, where it was successful deployed as a key part of the diagnostic testing portfolio.