Ahlstrom, a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, announces today that its Ahlstrom 226™ filter paper has been validated as a critical component in a newly published diagnostic method for chlamydia and gonorrhea testing, developed and evaluated by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology*, presents a novel dried urine strip (DUS) approach that enables accurate detection of chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (NG) through self-collected urine samples. The method demonstrated high diagnostic performance, with sensitivity above 91% and specificity exceeding 98%, as well as strong long-term sample stability at room temperature. The findings support broader access to testing, including easy access diagnostics and use in resource limited settings.
Ahlstrom 226™ filter paper was selected as the substrate material for the dried urine strip design. The material plays a critical role in the performance of the test by enabling reliable sample absorption, safe drying and storage, and full compatibility with high throughput molecular diagnostic systems.
Specifically, Ahlstrom 226™:
- Absorbs approximately 800 µL of urine, providing a stable and consistent collection surface.
- Preserves DNA and RNA integrity over extended storage periods at room temperature as well as under refrigerated and frozen conditions.
- Integrates seamlessly into existing laboratory workflows, fitting directly into Aptima tubes used in automated systems such as the Hologic Panther platform.
- Supports a wide range of molecular analyses, including NAAT testing, RT‑PCR, and pathogen genotyping.
"This publication represents an important external validation of our material science expertise in diagnostic applications," said Tamara Quatrano, Vice President, Lab & Life Science, Ahlstrom. "Being selected for a public health-led study underscores the reliability and versatility of Ahlstrom 226™ in enabling innovative, patient centric diagnostic solutions."
The dried urine strip approach offers a safe and practical alternative to liquid urine transport, reducing biohazard risks while simplifying sample logistics. As testing programs continue to evolve toward decentralized and self-collection models, material performance remains a key enabler of diagnostic accuracy and scalability.
Ahlstrom continues to collaborate closely with public health organizations and diagnostic developers to support next generation testing solutions that improve access, efficiency, and reliability in infectious disease diagnostics.
