POC platforms—CT, NG and CT/NG: summary of selected analytical and operational characteristics
| Company | Cepheid | Atlas Genetics | Alere | Molbio/bigTec | Ustar |
| Assay name | GeneXpert CT, CT/NG | Atlas io CT; CT/NG (pipeline) | Alere i CT/NG (pipeline) | Truelab PCR CT, NG (pipeline) | RT CPA HIV-1 Viral Load CT (pipeline) |
| Use setting | Tabletop, not portable Level 2—district hospital | Tabletop; portable Level 1—health centre | Tabletop; portable Level 1—health centre | 2 instruments; not portable; Level 2—district hospital | Level 2—district hospital |
| Specimen | Female and male urine, endocervical swab/patient-collected vaginal swab | Self-collected and clinician-collected vaginal swabs from symptomatic and asymptomatic women, and urine from men | Female and male urine, endocervical swab/patient-collected vaginal swab | TBD | TBD |
| Steps | ~4; sample preparation automated | ~4; automated sample preparation on instrument | ~6 simple steps; raw sample added to device | Multiple pipetting steps | ~3–5 steps from sample to result |
| Time to result | ~90 min | 30 min | <60 min | ||
| Cold chain; reagent stability | No; TBD | Cartridges with reagents stable at 2°C–25°C | No; >12 months | No; 3 months at temperatures to 40°C | |
| Power | Mains power required; solar power possible | Mains power required | AC mains and DC from external AC/DC supplied plug pack | Rechargeable lithium ion battery | Mains power or rechargeable battery |
| Training | Less than 0.5 day | Less than 1 hour; no formal training required; self-explanatory user guide and screens on instrument | Less than 0.5 day | Less than 0.5 day | Approximately 0.5 day |
| Connectivity | Yes; computer/internet required; remote calibration | Yes; via middleware | Yes; USB and Ethernet outlets | Yes; wireless connectivity | Will be used with Genie device; TBD |
| Equipment cost (US$); per test cost | ~$17 000 (with 4 modules), but could be higher; $16.20 (CT/NG) | TBD | TBD | ~$8000; TBD | <$5000; TBD |
AC, alternating current; CT, Chlamydia trachomatis; DC, direct current; NG, Neisseria gonorrhoeae; POC, point of care; TBD, to be determined.