ARX Viral Transport Media Collection and Transport System
K231843 · Arx Sciences, Inc. · JSM · Mar 19, 2024 · Microbiology
Device Facts
Record ID
K231843
Device Name
ARX Viral Transport Media Collection and Transport System
Applicant
Arx Sciences, Inc.
Product Code
JSM · Microbiology
Decision Date
Mar 19, 2024
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 866.2390
Device Class
Class 1
Indications for Use
ARX Viral Transport Media Collection & Transport System (ARX-VTM) is intended for the collection and transport of clinical specimens containing viruses from the collection site to the testing laboratory. The ARX-VTM is a culture-based media that is intended to be used in the laboratory to perform viral culture or diagnostic assays for viruses including, Influenza A, Parainfluenza type 3, Coronavirus OC43, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A, Herpes Simplex virus 1 & 2, Echovirus, and Cytomegalovirus.
Device Story
System consists of non-propagating transport media in polypropylene tubes (1 mL or 3 mL) and optional nylon flocked swabs; used for collecting/transporting clinical viral specimens. Specimens are collected at clinical sites, placed in media, and transported to laboratories for viral culture or diagnostic assays. Media contains antimicrobial agents, Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), proteins, and sugars to stabilize viral particles for up to 72 hours at 2-8°C or 20-25°C. Laboratory personnel process samples by inoculating monolayer cell cultures; viral recovery is assessed via FITC-labeled antibody immunostaining and visual enumeration of fluorescent foci units (FFU). Device aids in diagnosis by maintaining viral viability during transit.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Viral recovery study evaluated recovery of 8 viruses (Influenza A, Parainfluenza 3, Coronavirus OC43, RSV A, HSV 1 & 2, Echovirus, CMV) in negative clinical matrix. Samples stored at 2-8°C and 25-30°C for 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Recovery measured via Fluorescent Foci Units (FFU). Results showed viral titer changes within one log (+/- 90%) of baseline, supporting 72-hour stability. Shelf-life testing confirmed stability for 20 months.
Technological Characteristics
Polypropylene (PP) screw-cap tubes; 1mL or 3mL fill volumes; nylon flocked swabs. Medium contains Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), Gentamicin, Amphotericin B, and Phenol red. pH 7.4 ± 0.4. Osmolarity 290 ± 30 mOsm/Kg. Non-sterile media; sterile swabs. Single-use.
Indications for Use
Indicated for collection and transport of clinical specimens containing viruses from collection site to laboratory for viral culture or diagnostic assays. Target viruses include Influenza A, Parainfluenza type 3, Coronavirus OC43, RSV A, HSV 1 & 2, Echovirus, and Cytomegalovirus.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A transport culture medium is a device that consists of a semisolid, usually non-nutrient, medium that maintains the viability of suspected pathogens contained in patient specimens while in transit from the specimen collection area to the laboratory. The device aids in the diagnosis of disease caused by pathogenic microorganisms and also provides epidemiological information on these diseases.
Predicate Devices
iClean Viral Transport System (VTM-RT kit) (K212856)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
{0}
FDA
U.S. FOOD & DRUG
ADMINISTRATION
# 510(k) SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCE DETERMINATION DECISION SUMMARY
ASSAY ONLY
## I Background Information:
A 510(k) Number
K231843
B Applicant
ARX Sciences, Inc.
C Proprietary and Established Names
ARX Viral Transport Media Collection and Transport System
D Regulatory Information
| Product Code(s) | Classification | Regulation Section | Panel |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| JSM | Class I, reserved | 21 CFR 866.2390 - Transport Culture Medium | MI - Microbiology |
## II Submission/Device Overview:
A Purpose for Submission:
To obtain substantial equivalence determination for the ARX Viral Transport Media Collection & Transport System (ARX-VTM) for collection of viral organisms for laboratory culture and standard laboratory examinations.
B Measurand:
Not applicable
C Type of Test:
Non-propagating Transport Device with culture medium
Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
www.fda.gov
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K231843 - Page 2 of 9
# III Intended Use/Indications for Use:
# A Intended Use(s):
See Indications for Use below.
# B Indication(s) for Use:
ARX Viral Transport Media Collection & Transport System (ARX-VTM) is intended for the collection and transport of clinical specimens containing viruses from the collection site to the testing laboratory. The ARX-VTM is a culture-based media that is intended to be used in the laboratory to perform viral culture or diagnostic assays for viruses including, Influenza A, Parainfluenza type 3, Coronavirus OC43, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A, Herpes Simplex virus 1 & 2, Echovirus, and Cytomegalovirus.
# C Special Conditions for Use Statement(s):
Rx - For Prescription Use Only
# D Special Instrument Requirements:
None.
# IV Device/System Characteristics:
# A Device Description:
The ARX Viral Transport Media Collection and Transport System (ARX-VTM) is a non-propagating media supplied in individual polypropylene (PP) tubes filled with either $1\mathrm{mL}$ or $3\mathrm{mL}$ of transport medium or as a kit. The kits contain a PP tube with $1\mathrm{mL}$ or $3\mathrm{mL}$ of transport medium and a sterile peel pouch containing a nylon flocked swab applicator for collecting specimens.
ARX-VTM System is ready for use and requires no further preparation. It is available in the configurations listed in Table 1 and supplied in a labelled screw-cap test tube.
Table 1: ARX-VTM configurations
| REF | PRODUCT DESCRIPTION | | PACKAGING |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | TUBE | SWAB | |
| AR-071 | 1 mL of ARX-VTM medium in 13x90 mm screw-cap tube with internal shaped conical bottom. | NA | 50 tubes per package 10 x 50 tubes per box |
| AR-071-N | 1 mL of ARX-VTM medium in 13x90 mm screw-cap tube with internal shaped conical bottom | One Nasopharyngeal Test Swab with breaking point | 50 kits per package 10 x 50 kits per box |
| AR-071-O | 1 mL of ARX-VTM medium in 13x90 mm | One Oropharyngeal Test Swab | 50 kits per package 10 x 50 kits per box |
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K231843 - Page 3 of 9
| | screw-cap tube with internal shaped conical bottom. | with breaking point | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AR-103 | 3 mL of ARX-VTM medium in 16x110 mm screw-cap tube with internal shaped conical bottom. | NA | 50 tubes per package 10 x 50 tubes per box |
| AR-103-N | 3 mL of ARX-VTM medium in 16x110 mm screw-cap tube with internal shaped conical bottom. | One Nasopharyngeal Test Swab with breaking point | 50 kits per package 10 x 50 kits per box |
| AR-103-O | 3 mL of ARX-VTM medium in 16x100 mm screw-cap tube with internal shaped conical bottom. | One Oropharyngeal Test Swab with breaking point | 50 kits per package 10 x 50 kits per box |
B Principle of Operation:
ARX-VTM maintains cellular integrity and the preservation of viruses when properly stored. Prior to use, vials should be stored at either 2-8°C or 25-30°C. Once a specimen is collected with the appropriate swab, it should be placed into the vial containing the transport medium immediately and processed as soon as possible to achieve optimal recovery. In cases where immediate processing is not possible, the transport tube containing the specimen can be stored for up to 72 hours at either 2-8°C or 25-30°C.
The ARX-VTM contains the following ingredients:
- Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)
- Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)
- Gentamicin
- Amphotericin B
- Phenol red
- Deionized water.
HBBS and FBS provide the nutrients. Gentamicin and Amphotericin B inhibit bacterial and fungal contamination, respectively. Phenol red functions as a pH indicator.
V Substantial Equivalence Information:
A Predicate Device Name(s):
iClean Viral Transport System (VTM-RT kit)
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B Predicate 510(k) Number(s):
K212856
C Comparison with Predicate(s):
| Device & Predicate Device(s): | Device: K231843 | Predicate: K212856 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Device Trade Name | ARX Viral Transport Media Collection and Transport System (ARX-VTM) | iClean Viral Transport System (VTM-RT Kit) |
| General Device Characteristic Similarities | | |
| Intended Use/Indications For Use | ARX Viral Transport Media Collection & Transport System (ARX-VTM) is intended for the collection and transport of clinical specimens containing viruses from the collection site to the testing laboratory. The ARX-VTM is a culture-based media that is intended to be used in the laboratory to perform viral culture or diagnostic assays for viruses including, Influenza A, Parainfluenza type 3, Coronavirus OC43, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A, Herpes Simplex virus 1 & 2, Echovirus, and Cytomegalovirus. | iClean Viral Transport System (VTM-RT Kit) is intended for the collection and transport of clinical specimens containing respiratory viruses, Chlamydiae, or Mycoplasma hominis from the collection site to the testing laboratory. The collection system is a culture-based media that is intended to be used with standard laboratory examination, culture or with other assays that utilize stable recoverable infectious viral particles or bacteria. |
| Tube Material | Plastic Screw cap tube | Same |
| Single Use Device | Yes | Same |
| pH | 7.4 ± 0.4 | Same |
| Sterility | Non-sterile | Same |
| General Device Characteristic Differences | | |
| Media Formulation | • Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) | • Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) |
K231843 - Page 4 of 9
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K231843 - Page 5 of 9
VI Standards/Guidance Documents Referenced:
Not Applicable.
VII Performance Characteristics (if/when applicable):
A Analytical Performance:
1. Precision/Reproducibility:
Not Applicable.
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2. Linearity:
Not Applicable.
3. Analytical Specificity/Interference:
Not Applicable.
4. Assay Reportable Range:
Not Applicable.
5. Traceability, Stability, Expected Values (Controls, Calibrators, or Methods):
**Shelf Life:**
To evaluate Shelf-life, three lots of ARX-VTM samples were tested and visually examined at every month for real-time aging from 0 to 20 months. The lots of media were stored at 2-8°C or room temperature (25-30°C). Duplicate samples from each lot were visually inspected for turbidity (the appearance of the product is expected to be clear (i.e., no turbidity, not cloudy, and no precipitation)) and maintains a pink color (i.e., no color change from pink to yellow). The media lots were tested for pH (acceptable range: 7.4 ± 0.4) and osmolarity (acceptable range: 290 ± 30 mOsm/Kg). All results were acceptable. This and the performance data from recovery studies do support that ARX-VTM is stable for up to 20 months.
**Sterility:**
The ARX-VTM tube and media are not sold as sterile nor are they intended to be sterilized by the user. These vials are single use devices. To minimize contamination, the tubes are filled aseptically during manufacturing under control conditions. The swabs provided with the ARX-VTM are individually packaged and are sold as sterile.
6. Detection Limit:
**Performance Testing - Recovery Studies:**
Performance of the ARX-VTM was evaluated using a culture-based viral recovery study. Dilutions of the virus stock suspensions for Coronavirus OC43, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Echovirus Type 30, Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2), Influenza A, Parainfluenza 3, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A were prepared in negative clinical matrix. The matrix was then transferred with the swabs into the ARX-VTM and held at both 2-8°C and room temperature (25-30°C) for 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The inoculum dilution for preparing the contrived virus specimen was predetermined by demonstrating ~40 to ~50% infection via Fluorescent Foci Unit (FFU) after 24-48 hours in culture. Recovery study was conducted with three variously aged lots (new lot: 0-3 months old, middle-age lot: 11-12 months old, and old lot: 17 to 19 months old) of 3 ml ARX-VTM. At the end of each incubation of the swab samples in the ARX-VTM, an aliquot of the mixture was inoculated into the cell monolayer and incubated for 24-48 hours before the cells were washed, fixed and immunostained by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled antibodies for each target virus. The virus titer was determined by visual enumeration of fluorescent foci units (FFU) of each target virus. Table 2 below exhibits the viral recovery performance of the ARX-VTM at 2-8°C. Table 3 below exhibits the viral recovery
K231843 - Page 6 of 9
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performance of the ARX-VTM at $25 - 30^{\circ}\mathrm{C}$ . Any change of virus titer that was within one log $(+/-90\%)$ from the baseline (time point 0) was considered acceptable.
Table 2: Viral recovery performance of ARX-VTM at ${2 - 8}^{ \circ }\mathrm{C}$
| Test Strain | Average Recovery in Foci count/mL (×104Foci Counts/mL) | Percent Changes in viral recovery from the baseline (T= 0 hr.) at 2-8°C (-ve indicates reduction) | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | 0 h | 24 h | 48 h | 72 h |
| Cytomegalovirus | 3.52E+04 | -0.34% | -5.65% | -29.91% |
| Coronavirus OC43 | 1.93E+04 | 13.53% | -4.90% | -20.29% |
| Echovirus Type 30 | 4.29E+04 | 2.27% | -0.60% | -13.54% |
| Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 | 3.06E+04 | -1.26% | -15.39% | -29.74% |
| Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 | 3.71E+04 | -18.51% | -23.41% | -29.78% |
| Influenza A H3N2 | 3.39E+04 | 36.00% | 61.69% | 26.89% |
| Parainfluenza Type 3 | 3.61E+04 | 61.16% | 9.21% | -36.19% |
| Respiratory Syncytial Type A | 1.12E+04 | 31.29% | -24.14% | -41.66% |
Table 3: Viral recovery performance of ARX-VTM at ${25} - {30}^{ \circ }\mathrm{C}$
| Test Strain | Average Recovery in Foci count/mL (×104Foci Counts/mL) | Percent Changes in viral recovery from the baseline (T= 0 hr.) at 25-30°C (-ve indicates reduction) | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | 0 h | 24 h | 48 h | 72 h |
| Cytomegalovirus | 3.52E+04 | 4.85% | -24.86% | -34.58% |
| Coronavirus OC43 | 1.93E+04 | 12.82% | -6.68% | -27.68% |
| Echovirus Type 30 | 4.29E+04 | 10.16% | -5.16% | -19.81% |
| Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 | 3.06E+04 | -3.33% | -12.47% | -36.23% |
| Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 | 3.71E+04 | -13.19% | -23.06% | -33.85% |
| Influenza A H3N2 | 3.39E+04 | 32.50% | 45.29% | 8.63% |
| Parainfluenza Type 3 | 3.61E+04 | 41.75% | -16.68% | -46.93% |
K231843 - Page 7 of 9
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| Respiratory Syncytial Type A | 1.12E+04 | 98.71%* | 61.86% | 23.07% |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
* Considered acceptable because subsequent timepoints, i.e., 48 h and 72 h time points showed < 90% increase.
The viral recovery study data supports the recovery of the above indicated viruses for up to 72 hours from collection when the specimen containing viruses are stored in the ARX-VTM at 2-8°C or at room temperature (25-30°C).
Based on the overall analysis of viral recovery data, the following statements were added in the package insert:
1. ARX-VTM was also tested for viral recovery of Adenovirus. However, due to data irregularities, the data was insufficient to support use of this medium for collection and storage of specimens for Adenovirus culture or testing.
2. The recovery performance of other viruses beyond the ones tested in the recovery study are not known.
Assay Cut-Off:
Not Applicable.
Comparison Studies:
Method Comparison with Predicate Device:
Not Applicable.
Matrix Comparison:
Not Applicable.
Clinical Studies:
Clinical Sensitivity:
Not Applicable.
Clinical Specificity:
Not Applicable.
Other Clinical Supportive Data (When 1. and 2. Are Not Applicable):
Not Applicable.
K231843 - Page 8 of 9
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Clinical Cut-Off:
Not Applicable.
Expected Values/Reference Range:
Not Applicable.
VIII Proposed Labeling:
The labeling supports the finding of substantial equivalence for this device.
IX Conclusion:
The submitted information in this premarket notification is complete and supports a substantial equivalence decision.
K231843 - Page 9 of 9
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