French diagnostics company bioMérieux (Euronext Paris:BIM) on Tuesday announced the launch of WATCHFIRE, a molecular testing solution designed to detect respiratory viruses and bacteria in wastewater samples.

The WATCHFIRE Respiratory Panel identifies 22 respiratory pathogens using PCR technology and operates on the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY TORCH system, delivering results in approximately 45 minutes.

Integrated with the FIREWORKS software, the system enables real-time pathogen tracking from community wastewater sources, supporting early warning alerts for public health authorities.

Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance has gained prominence as a tool for assessing community health, especially in the context of SARS-CoV-2 and antimicrobial resistance.

The WATCHFIRE R Panel is tailored for decentralised or near-source lab settings, offering enhanced operational efficiency and improved surveillance capabilities.

This launch marks the first component of the WATCHFIRE solution, with a gastrointestinal-focused panel targeting enteric pathogens set to follow in the third quarter of 2025.

The WATCHFIRE Respiratory Panel will be available globally in the second quarter of 2025, further strengthening bioMérieux's role in public health surveillance.