WALTHAM, Mass.– Rhinostics introduces another breakthrough in automated sample collection technologies with the launch of the patent-pending ELEstic™ swab collection device combined with the groundbreaking ELEbot™ Decapper. The ELEstic includes a high-performance swab attached to a cap that screws into a 75mm by 13mm tube, the diagnostic industry standard that fits into most of the larger closed molecular testing platforms. The ELEbot Decapper provides 24-tube automated decapping of swab samples that can be placed upstream of these molecular testing platforms for sample elution and decapping prior to transferring the sample directly into the diagnostics testing system.
The ELEstic joins the Company’s award-winning platform of proprietary collection devices, including the 96-well RHINOstic®/RHINObot™ system. Both systems integrate a unique, polypropylene swab with an automatable cap. After a patient sample is collected, the swab is placed into a collection tube for dry shipment, bypassing the need for transport media to reduce sample loss during transport and accidental biohazard contact. This feature also enables more rapid and complete elution for increasing sample concentration to drop Limits of Detection (LOD) for many assays; can remove extraction steps; and reduces reagent usage. Both the ELEstic and RHINOstic systems offer significant cost reductions to laboratory workflows through labor and reagent savings.
The easy-to-use ELEbot Decapper automates decapping and capping of the ELEstic in 75mm by 13mm tubes in 24-tube racks. This speeds sample processing and allows more samples to be processed in the same footprint with a smaller staff, in the first completely handsfree swab workflow, lowering dependency on labor and dropping these costs significantly.
The ELEstic employs the proven stacked-ring head, developed at the Wyss Institute, with a successful track record testing millions of COVID-19 patient and medically collected samples. Additionally, laboratories have begun using the swabs for multi-analyte respiratory testing, vaginal and triple-site collection for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), wounds, and other swab sample types.
“We are excited to expand our platform to offer a solution for the closed diagnostic platforms after successfully launching our 96-well solutions for open platforms nearly three years ago. Each lab that adopts our technology quickly realizes the benefits of stream-lined workflows, more reliable and repeatable testing through robotics, reducing labor dependency and costs, and dropping their reagent costs to make a significant impact on their cost of goods. Every laboratory is looking for ways to manage their costs more effectively as reimbursement payments continue to fall,” said Cheri Walker, PhD, President and CEO of Rhinostics.
Rhinostics will mark the global debut of the ELEstic and ELEbot at the 2023 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo to be held July 25-27 in Anaheim, CA.
