Luminex has been given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for an expanded version of its NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel, authorizing its use in testing for COVID-19 infection.

The multiplex, high-throughput test is designed to simultaneously detect the most common respiratory pathogens. The new version of the test includes 19 viral and two bacterial targets, including SARS-CoV-2. Significantly, the company said the test is expected to detect new coronavirus variants, including the UK, South African and Brazilian strains, as well as a variant first found in California.

The test allows clinical labs to run up to 96 samples at a time, producing results in approximately four hours. It runs on Luminex’s MAGPIX system and is designed to be used in high-complexity molecular laboratories.