GenMark Diagnostics Chosen as Primary Provider of Rapid Diagnostic Testing for Vidant Health

Largest health system in eastern North Carolina turns to ePlex platform for fast results on SARS-CoV-2, respiratory and blood stream infections

CARLSBAD, Calif., June 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GenMark Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNMK), a leading provider of automated, multiplex molecular diagnostic testing systems, has been selected by Vidant Health as its primary provider of rapid diagnostic testing. Vidant is deploying GenMark’s ePlex system across all nine of its hospitals to test for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens, as well as blood stream infections.

The largest health system in eastern North Carolina, Vidant Health, is using GenMark’s ePlex SARS-CoV-2 Test – one of the first rapid diagnostic tests for the virus that causes COVID-19 – and will transition to the ePlex Respiratory Pathogen 2 (RP2) Panel once GenMark has submitted the application for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ePlex RP2 Panel is designed to test for SARS-CoV-2 in addition to other common and often serious respiratory pathogens, including influenza, pneumonia, rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). GenMark’s ePlex system provides results in less than two hours for the full suite of ePlex Panels. In addition to using the ePlex RP2 Panel, Vidant Health will also begin using all three of the ePlex Blood Culture Identification (BCID) panels, which provide the broadest coverage of organisms that can lead to sepsis, along with their resistance genes.

“GenMark’s platform is a game-changer, providing us with reliable, high-tech rapid testing at all of our hospitals, from our 974-bed medical center to our 16-bed facilities,” said David Harlow, vice president of operations for Vidant Health. “SARS-CoV-2 has changed the way we think about diagnostic testing, particularly as a system with many smaller, rural hospitals. Looking ahead, the ePlex RP2 Panel will help us enormously to rapidly and effectively triage patients to ensure those that are critically ill are quickly moved to our Medical Center if needed, while other patients can be treated closer to home. This will be especially important when the flu, various coronaviruses and other common respiratory pathogens are circulating this fall.”