The EUROPattern system has been extended to include computer-aided evaluation of indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) for infectious disease diagnosis. Parameters encompass Chlamydia spp., Bartonella spp., Mycoplasma spp., HHV-6, CHIKV, coxsackievirus, EBV, DENV, hantaviruses, sandfly fever viruses, YFV and ZIKV. The assays utilize infected cells, antigen-expressing cells or bacterial smears to detect the corresponding antibodies in patient samples. IFA BIOCHIP Mosaics provide combinations of different substrates for efficient multiplex analyses. The EUROPattern microscope provides automated acquisition of the immunofluorescence images for convenient evaluation at the PC screen. It allows fast automated focusing and image recording for up to 500 fields in less than two hours. Slides are identified by means of matrix codes, eliminating the risk of mix-ups. Results can be checked retrospectively at the microscope if necessary. For selected parameters, e.g. EBV, sophisticated classification software provides positive/negative classification of the fluorescence signals, including titre designations with confidence values for positive samples. Negative results can be verified in batch for increased efficiency. The controlled LED in the microscope provides over 50,000 hours of constant light intensity, ensuring highly reproducible results. Results are consolidated into one report per patient and compared with previous findings. Different software user levels provide a hierarchical review of results, thus increasing security. All fluorescence images and reports are digitally archived. The software can be fully integrated into existing laboratory software (LIS) for a streamlined laboratory routine. The infection parameters complement established EUROPattern applications, such as the fully automated evaluation of ANA, ANCA, Crithidia luciliae, recombinant-cell and antigen-dot IFA.

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Pefaclot UFH is a powerful and economic kit to monitor unfractionated heparin (UFH) in patient plasma samples. It has been outlined in several studies that Pefaclot UFH shows excellent reproducibility, accuracy and lot to lot consistency. Pefaclot UFH shows superior accuracy when compared to aPTT and excellent correlation to anti-FXa measurement at a much lower cost(1). It has been shown that Pefaclot UFH routine monitoring was associated with a significantly (p=0.035) reduced daily dose of administered UFH (median 27’000U/day with aPTT vs 25’000U/day with Pefaclot UFH)(2). Data suggest that monitoring with Pefaclot UFH is analytically more accurate and allows more precise dosing. The higher precision and reliability during the induction phase but also for dosing adjustment may result in a reduced number of venipunctures.  As a consequence, the obtained results lead to an overall shorter turnaround time for UFH administration compared to aPTT. Furthermore, the reduced number of tests needed during UFH administration reduces the time spent for lab technicians. The improved UFH administration with reduced doses of needed UFH has the potential to reduce the bleeding risk as well as the risk of developing HIT (heparin induced thrombocytopenia) for patients because of the lower exposure to UFH. In addition to fewer tests being performed, Pefaclot UFH may lead to even more savings as a consequence of lower doses of UFH being administered and fewer blood collection tubes and other consumables. The potential of lower bleeding risk may also reduce the overall duration of the hospital stay. Pefaclot UFH relies on the activation of plasma at the level of the prothrombinase complex and measures the clotting time in seconds. The clotting time is then directly linked to the UFH concentration in the sample. Pefaclot UFH is optimized to give strong clotting signals on optical instruments, but also demonstrates excellent reproducibility on mechanical instruments. It can be applied to all major routine analysers (e.g. from Stago, Siemens, Sysmex, Instrumentation Laboratory).

References
<sup>1. Bürki S, Brand B, Escher R et al. Accuracy, reproducibility and costs of different laboratory assays for the monitoring of unfractionated heparin in clinical practice: a prospective evaluation study and survey among Swiss institutions. BMJ Open 2018:8:e022943
2. Korte W, Graf L, Knöpfel C. Replacing the aPTT for monitoring of unfractionated heparin with the Prothrombinase induced Clotting Time (PiCT) – significant influence on dosing. GTH 2017 (Abstract 663)</sup>

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Greiner Bio-One, a division of Greiner AG specializing in the development, production and distribution of high-quality plastic laboratory products, is proud to announce that it has changed its logo on its website and on all its existing social media channels.
The new logos of all Greiner divisions were presented in September 2018 at the 150-years-anniversary gala in Kremsmünster (Austria) where the company is headquartered. The new Greiner Bio-One logo was developed with the aim of presenting Greiner AG visually more strongly as a group, without restricting the visual and perceived independence and autonomy of the divisions. Since this change is very time-consuming and many areas and content types are affected, it will take place in several stages over a period of up to five years. www.gbo.com
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The FDA-cleared ChemWell® RPR replaces the manual labor-intensive and subjective visual RPR reading with a fully automatic, 190 results-per-hour process that objectively interprets and stores photographic images. Over the years and around the world many high throughput labs have already given up the advantages of non-treponemal screening, replacing it with more expensive treponemal ELISA testing simply to take advantage of automation. The compromise is no longer necessary.

Automated ChemWell® RPR allows laboratories to use the US CDC recommended traditional nontreponemal screening algorithm instead of the higher-cost and complicated reverse algorithm while reducing hands-on time by 92%, compared to a manual RPR test.

The innovative test system was developed in cooperation with Arlington Scientific Inc. (Salt Lake City, Utah USA) who is selling in North America and Europe under the brand name Evolution. Awareness Technology will supply the rest of the world through its distribution and technical service channels.  

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