Search Results

The BIOFIRE® SPOTFIRE® Respiratory/Sore Throat (R/ST) Panel Mini is a multiplexed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test intended for use with the BIOFIRE® System for the simultaneous, qualitative detection and identification of multiple respiratory viral and bacterial nucleic acids in nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) specimens obtained from individuals with signs and symptoms of respiratory tract infection, including COVID-19; (Respiratory menu) or in throat swab (TS) specimens from individuals with signs and symptoms of pharyngitis (Sore Throat menu).

The following analytes are identified and differentiated using the SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini:

Respiratory Menu:
Viruses
Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
Human rhinovirus
Influenza A virus
Influenza B virus
Respiratory syncytial virus

Sore Throat Menu:
Viruses
Human rhinovirus
Influenza A virus
Influenza B virus
Respiratory syncytial virus
Bacteria
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Strep)

Nucleic acids from the viral and bacterial organisms identified by this test are generally detectable in NPS/TS specimens during the acute phase of infection. The detection and identification of specific viral and bacterial nucleic acids from individuals exhibiting signs and symptoms of respiratory infection and/or pharyngitis is indicative of the presence of the identified microorganism and aids in diagnosis if used in conjunction with other clinical and epidemiological information, and laboratory findings. The results of this test should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment, or other patient management decisions.

Negative results in the setting of a respiratory illness and/or pharyngitis may be due to infection with pathogens that are not detected by this test, or a respiratory tract infection that may not be detected by an NPS or TS specimen. Positive results do not rule out co-infection with other organisms. The agent(s) detected by the SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini may not be the definite cause of disease.

Additional laboratory testing (e.g., bacterial and viral culture, immunofluorescence, and radiography) may be necessary when evaluating a patient with possible respiratory tract infection and/or pharyngitis.

The SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini simultaneously identifies 5 different respiratory viral pathogens in nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) or 5 different viral and bacterial pharyngitis pathogens in throat swabs (TS) from individuals with signs and symptoms of respiratory tract infections or pharyngitis, respectively, (see Table 1) The SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini is compatible with the BIOFIRE® System, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based in vitro diagnostic system for infectious disease testing. The BIOFIRE System Sottware executes the SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini test and interprets and reports the test results. The SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini was designed to be used in CLIA-waived environments.

A test is initiated by loading Hydration Solution injection solution injection port of the SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini pouch and NPS or TS specimen, mixed with the provided Sample injection port of the SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini pouch and placing it in the SPOTFIRE System. The reagents required for specimen testing and analysis in a freeze-dried format; the addition of Hydration and Sample/Buffer Mix rehydrates the reagents. After the pouch is prepared, the SPOTFIRE System Software guides the user through the steps of placing the pouch into the instrument, scanning the sample identification, and initiating the run.

The SPOTFIRE System contains coordinated systems of inflatable bladders and seal points, which act on the pouch to control the movement of liquid between the pouch blisters. When a bladder is inflated over a reagent blister, it forces liquid from the blister into connecting channels. Alternatively, when a seal is placed over a connecting channel it acts as a valve to open or close a channel. In addition, electronically-controlled pneumatic pistons are positioned over multiple plungers in order to deliver the rehydrated reagents into the blisters at the appropriate times. Two Peltier devices control heating and cooling of the pouch to drive the PCR reactions and the melt curve analysis.

Nucleic acid extraction occurs within the SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini pouch using mechanical Ivsis followed by purfication using standard magnetic bead technology. After extracting and purifying nucleic acids from the unprocessed sample, the SPOTFIRE System performs a nested multiplex PCR that is executed in two stage. During the first stage, the SPOTFIRE System performs a single, large volume, highly multiplexed reverse transcription PCR (rt-PCR) reaction. The products from first stage PCR are then diluted and combined with a fresh, primer-free master mix and a fluorescent doublestranded DNA binding dye (LC Green® Plus, BioFire Diagnostics). The solution is then distributed to each well of the array. Array wells contain sets of primers designed specifically to amplify sequences internal to the PCR products generated during the first stage PCR reaction. The 2nd stage PCR, or nested PCR, is performed in singleplex fashion in each well of the array. At the conclusion of the 2nd stage PCR, the array is interrogated by melt curve analysis for the detection of signature amplicons denoting the presence of specific targets. A digital camera placed in front of the 2nd stage PCR captures fluorescent images of the PCR reactions and software interprets the data.

The SPOTFIRE System Software automatically interprets the results of each DNA melt curve analysis and combines the data with the results of the internal pouch controls to provide a test result for each organism on the SPOTFIRE R/ST Panel Mini.

This document describes the BIOFIRE® SPOTFIRE® Respiratory/Sore Throat (R/ST) Panel Mini, a multiplex PCR test.

1. Table of Acceptance Criteria and Reported Device Performance

The document provides extensive analytical performance data rather than a direct comparison of acceptance criteria to reported clinical performance metrics (like PPA and NPA). However, the "Summary of Performance Data" for clinical studies does present sensitivity/PPA and specificity/NPA, which can be interpreted as the reported device performance against implied clinical acceptance criteria.

Clinical Performance Summary (NPS Specimens - Respiratory Menu)

Clinical Performance Summary (TS Specimens - Sore Throat Menu)

Analytical Acceptance Criteria and Results for key studies:

2. Sample Sizes and Data Provenance

• Clinical Performance (Test Set):
  • NPS Specimens (Respiratory Menu - Prospective): Total of 1115 specimens. The document doesn't explicitly state the country of origin but implies clinical sites (e.g., "as tested by intended users"). This is prospective data.
  • NPS Specimens (Respiratory Menu - Archived): Used for some analytes, e.g., Human Rhinovirus (30 positive, 454 negative), Influenza A (59 positive, 423 negative), Influenza B (30 positive, 28 negative), RSV (37 positive, 447 negative). This is retrospective data.
  • TS Specimens (Sore Throat Menu - Prospective): Total of 876 specimens for most viral targets. Streptococcus pyogenes had 217 positive (PCR) / 177 positive (Culture) and 660 negative (PCR) / 692 negative (Culture). This is prospective data.
  • TS Specimens (Sore Throat Menu - Archived): Used for some analytes, e.g., Human Rhinovirus (2 positive, 57 negative), Influenza A (11 positive, 44 negative), Influenza B (20 positive, 0 negative), RSV (2 positive, 57 negative), Streptococcus pyogenes (39 positive, 10 negative). This is retrospective data.
  • TS Specimens (Sore Throat Menu - Contrived): Used for some analytes, e.g., Influenza A (93 positive, 332 negative), Influenza B (49 positive, 333 negative), RSV (50 positive, 381 negative). This would be laboratory-generated data.

3. Number of Experts and Qualifications for Ground Truth

The document does not specify the number or qualifications of experts used to establish the ground truth for the clinical test set. It mentions using "molecular assays or known specimen composition" as comparator methods for most analytes, and "culture" as the reference method for Streptococcus pyogenes.

4. Adjudication Method

The document does not describe any specific adjudication method (e.g., 2+1, 3+1) for establishing the ground truth or resolving discrepancies in the clinical test set.

5. Multi-Reader Multi-Case (MRMC) Comparative Effectiveness Study

No MRMC comparative effectiveness study is mentioned or implied, as this device is an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) PCR test for direct pathogen detection, not an AI-assisted diagnostic imaging or interpretation tool for human readers. Therefore, the concept of "human readers improve with AI vs without AI assistance" does not apply.

6. Standalone Performance

Yes, the studies described are for standalone performance. The BIOFIRE® SPOTFIRE® R/ST Panel Mini provides automated interpretation and reporting of test results based on the PCR assay. It is designed to be used independently to generate a qualitative detection and identification of microbial nucleic acids.

7. Type of Ground Truth Used

• Clinical Performance (Prospective/Archived): The ground truth for most analytes was established using molecular assays or, in some cases, known specimen composition. For Streptococcus pyogenes, culture was also used as a reference method for some comparisons.
• Analytical Performance (LoD, Inclusivity, Exclusivity, Interference, Reproducibility, Matrix Validation, Transport Media Validation, Carry Over): The ground truth was established through known specimen composition (e.g., contrived samples with known concentrations of organisms, presence of interfering substances, specific transport media).

8. Sample Size for the Training Set

The document does not explicitly mention a "training set" in the context of machine learning or AI algorithm development. This device is a PCR-based test, and its performance is validated through analytical and clinical studies, not typically through a machine learning training phase with a distinct dataset. The "training" in this context refers to the development and optimization of the PCR primers, probes, and reaction conditions.

9. How the Ground Truth for the Training Set Was Established

Given that this is a PCR diagnostic device, not an AI algorithm in the typical sense of needing a "training set" for model learning, this question isn't directly applicable. The "ground truth" for developing and optimizing the PCR assays themselves would have been established through:

• Careful selection and validation of synthetic nucleic acid targets.
• Testing with characterized microbial isolates and clinical samples whose status was confirmed by established reference methods (e.g., sequencing, culture, validated molecular tests).
• In silico analysis of genetic sequences to design primers and probes with high specificity and inclusivity.

Ask a specific question about this device