POCTs—TV: summary of selected analytical and operational characteristics
| Company | Cepheid | Quidel | Atlas Genetics |
| Assay name | GeneXpert | AmpliVue | Atlas io (pipeline) |
| Use setting | Tabletop; not portable Level 2 | Tabletop; not portable Level 2; need heat block; vortex | Tabletop; portable Level 1 |
| Specimen | Female and male urine, endocervical swab/patient-collected vaginal swab | Vaginal swabs from symptomatic and asymptomatic women | Self-collected and clinician-collected vaginal swabs from symptomatic and asymptomatic women, and urine from men |
| Steps | ~4; sample preparation automated | Moderately complex; ~12 steps; timed incubation | ~4; automated sample preparation on instrument |
| Time to result | ~60 min | 45 min | 30 min |
| Cold chain; reagent stability | Kit storage: 2°C–28°C | Cartridge/cassettes: 2°C–30°C; buffers: 2°C–8°C | Cartridges with reagents stable at 2°C–25°C |
| Power | Mains power required; can use solar | Mains power required for heat block | Mains power required |
| Training | Less than 0.5 day | Less than 0.5 day | Less than 1 hour; no formal training required; self-explanatory user guide and screens on instrument |
| Connectivity | Yes; computer/internet required; remote calibration | No | Yes; via middleware |
| Equipment cost (US$); per test | ~$17 000 (with 4 modules), but could be higher; $19.00 | TBD | TBD |
Level 1=primary healthcare centre. Level 2=district hospital.
POCT, point-of-care testing; TBD, to be determined; TV, Trichomonas vaginalis.