Hologic Expands Panther Platform with Next-Generation Scalable Solutions for Molecular Testing Labs

Medical diagnostics innovator Hologic has unveiled an expanded portfolio of configurable options for its Panther system, now accessible to laboratories across the United States and Europe. The Hologic Panther Scalable Solutions initiative represents a strategic response to evolving market demands, offering laboratories the ability to customize their molecular testing infrastructure based on current throughput requirements and anticipated future growth.

Addressing Laboratory Operational Challenges

Modern molecular testing facilities face mounting pressure to handle increased sample volumes while maintaining operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The Hologic Panther platform was engineered to consolidate multiple testing functions—including women’s health diagnostics, sexually transmitted infection screening, respiratory pathogen detection, and viral load analysis—onto a single automated system. By unifying these capabilities on one platform, laboratories reduce operational complexity and streamline workflows.

The introduction of optional enhancement modules now enables institutions to right-size their instrumentation without complete system replacement. This modular approach permits incremental capacity expansion as testing demands evolve over time.

Panther Plus: Enhanced Capacity and Extended Automation

The newly available Panther Plus configuration augments the core Panther system’s capabilities by enabling extended operational autonomy. Laboratories can load increased quantities of consumables directly onto the instrument, supporting continuous operation for up to 13.5 consecutive hours without operator intervention. The system permits technicians to replenish fluids and dispose of waste while active testing remains in progress.

This enhanced configuration delivers an additional 210 patient samples per 24-hour cycle, elevating total daily throughput to over 1,200 samples. Both FDA approval and CE marking certify compliance with regulatory standards across North American and European markets.

Panther Link: Software-Enabled Workflow Integration

Beyond hardware enhancements, Hologic offers Panther Link, a software architecture that establishes interconnected communication between multiple Panther instruments operating within the same laboratory facility. This virtual linking mechanism coordinates reagent management and test ordering across connected units, optimizing chemical utilization and accelerating result turnaround times.

A centralized monitoring dashboard provides technicians comprehensive visibility into instrument inventories, scheduled maintenance activities, and test performance metrics from a single workstation. This unified oversight reduces administrative overhead and enables rapid response to operational bottlenecks.

Panther Link carries FDA clearance and European CE marking, facilitating deployment throughout established healthcare laboratory networks.

Panther Fusion: Expanded Assay Capabilities

Launched in 2016, the Panther Fusion module complements the base Panther system with an expanded in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) menu and Open Access functionality. This component enables laboratories to execute customized, laboratory-developed tests alongside manufacturer-cleared assays, providing diagnostic flexibility for specialized testing needs.

Panther Trax: Future Advancement in Laboratory Automation

Hologic is currently developing Panther Trax, an integrated workcell design that physically and digitally unites multiple Panther instruments into a coordinated system. This advanced configuration permits substantial increases in testing capacity without proportional expansion of laboratory staffing requirements. Commercial availability in North American and European markets is anticipated later in 2020.

Comprehensive Assay Menu and Clinical Applications

The Panther system maintains FDA clearance for 16 molecular assays and CE marking for 20 assays, collectively detecting over 20 distinct pathogens. This breadth of diagnostic capability allows laboratories to consolidate cervical health screening, sexual health testing, respiratory disease detection, and viral load quantification into unified automated workflows.

Strategic Implications for Laboratory Operations

Kevin Thornal, president of Hologic’s Diagnostic Solutions Division, noted that laboratory customers increasingly seek operational consolidation and efficiency gains. The expanded Panther Scalable Solutions portfolio responds directly to this market trend, with more instruments deployed across facilities running parallel assays than at any point in the system’s operational history. Ten years following its initial European introduction in 2010, the Panther platform continues evolving with enhanced capabilities designed for both current laboratory demands and anticipated future testing requirements.

The modular architecture of Hologic’s Panther Scalable Solutions permits institutions to construct customized configurations that align with their specific testing volumes and operational objectives as clinical demands shift over time. This approach maintains the proven reliability and performance characteristics that have established the Panther system as a market-leading molecular diagnostic platform.