The Access PCT assay is the latest addition to the menu for the Access family of im-munoassay systems. The state-of-the-art sensitivity and low-end precision of Access PCT assay combined with short incubation time helps physicians in the risk assessment of critically ill patients in danger of progression to severe sepsis or septic shock, with test results available in under 20 minutes. Procalcitonin levels in blood have been found to correlate with the severity of bacterial infections and also with the probability of a positive blood culture, making it a clinically useful marker in the assessment of patients with possible sepsis or septic shock. The ability to rapidly diagnose suspected sepsis patients and determine appropriate care and treatment is critical, as earlier administration of antibiotics is highly correlated with increased patient survival. Access PCT enables healthcare providers to integrate procalcitonin testing analysis into their routine sepsis work-ups on core laboratory analysers, as a primary or reflex test programmed though Beckman Coulter’s REMISOL Advance middleware. Such integration simplifies laboratory workflow and optimizes institutional sepsis management protocols while reducing the operation expense of maintaining costly dedicated instrumentation. The Access PCT assay has received CE mark certification and is avail-
able for use on the Access family of immunoassay systems including the Access 2, UniCel DxI 600 and UniCel DxI 800.

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The VACUETTE FC Mix Tube is specifically designed for reliable detection of diabetes and taking appropriate measures to combat the condition. The citrate/citric acid buffer ensures a quick stabilization of the blood sample. The glycolysis is catalysed and suppressed. Therefore, the blood sugar is held constantly at the in vivo value. Due to the sodium fluoride additive contained in the VACUETTE FC Mix Tube, inhibition is extended to 48 hours. Additionally, Na2-EDTA is included as an anticoagulant, which is effective due to complexation of Ca++. The almost full inhibition of glycolysis in the VACUETTE FC Mix Tube means that diagnosis is a much more reliable process than before. The stabilization is carried out in whole blood and therefore does not require immediate centrifugation. Unlike in tubes with liquid additives, the finely granulated additive does not cause a dilution effect. The breakdown of glucose (glycolysis) in venous blood samples is of great significance in pre-analytics, particularly in relation to the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes. To prevent imme-diate glycolysis in the event of delay between blood collection and measurement in the lab, test tubes should include a citrate/citric acid buffer as well as sodium fluoride (NaF).
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Siemens Healthineers recently announced the new RAPIDPoint 500e blood gas system, their latest
solution in critical point-of-care testing. The new system generates blood gas, electrolyte  and metabolyte results used to diagnose and monitor critically ill patients typically in the intensive care unit, operating room or emergency room. The RAPIDPoint 500e blood gas system is available now in all countries requiring the CE mark. Developed with extensive customer feedback, the system is designed to elevate confidence in patient results with Integri-sense technology, streamline workflow with improved simplicity and raise the bar in data security. Cybersecurity is becoming a key operational factor. Health-care providers must protect confidential operator and patient information.
The RAPIDPoint 500e blood gas system incorporates Integri-sense technology, a comprehensive series of automated functional checks designed to deliver accurate test results at the point-of-care. Integri-sense technology combines three levels of automatic quality control (AutomaticQC), multiple calibration routines and advanced software algorithms to generate reliable and clinically actionable test results. It also integrates seamlessly into hospital networks with the Siemens Healthineers Point of Care Ecosystem which offers convenient, remote management of operators and devices located across multiple sites.
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Cardiovascular disease caused by atherosclerosis is the leading cause of morbidity in Western Countries [1]. It involves the hardening and narrowing of vessels in the systemic system. The process originates from the build-up of fatty deposits through a process known as atherogenesis. If the build-up increases, plaque rupturing may occur leading to myocardial infarction [2].
The mission of The National Lipid Association (NLA) is “to enhance the practice of lipid management in clinical medicine.” NLA advocates advancing the current lipid testing profile as the traditional panel consists of testing LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides, which only detects approximately 20 % of all atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients. Advanced lipid testing is recommended to optimize patient treatment [3].
Offering a total solution for lipid and cardiac risk testing, Randox has developed novel and superior performance markers to identify the true weight of lipid profiling. Its range of niche and superior performance assays comprises 13 assays including: small dense LDL-C (sdLDL-C), Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and HDL3-C.
sdLDL-C will more readily permeate the inner arterial wall having a lower affinity to the hepatic LDL-C receptor which circulates in the blood longer and more susceptible to oxidation.
As sdLDL-C is particularly atherogenic, a person with elevated sdLDL-C levels has a 3-fold increased risk of myocardial infarction [4].
Elevated Lp(a) levels are associated robustly and specifically with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The unique Randox Lp(a) assay is one of the only methodologies on the market that detect the non-variable part of the Lp(a) molecule which suffers minimal size related bias.
HDL3-C is the scavenger of cholesterol within arterial walls and if HDL3-C levels are significantly depleted, the ability to remove this cholesterol is reduced. Therefore, it is widely accepted that there is an inverse correlation between HDL3-C and CVD risk.
It is necessary to review the traditional lipid testing panel, enabling clinicians to gain a more comprehensive view of a patient’s CVD risk and therefore take the appropriate
measures to prevent CVD related deaths.
References
1. Burnett JR. Lipids, lipoproteins, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Clin Biochem Rev 2004; 25(1): 2 [cited: 3 December 2018]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1853363/.
2. Zimmermaann KA. Circulatory system: facts, function & diseases. Live Science [Online] 16 March 2018 [cited: 3 December 2018]. https://www.livescience.com/22486-circulatory-system.html.
3. National Lipid Association. National Lipid Association releases updated recommendations on the use of PCSK9 inhibitors at the 15th Annual Scientific Session. [Online] no date [cited: 3 December 2018]. https://www.lipid.org/nla/national-lipid-association-releases-updated-recommendations-use-pcsk9-inhibitors-15th-annual.
4. Austin MA, Breslow JL, Hennekens CH, Buring JE, Willett WC, Krauss RM. LDL subclass patterns and risk of MI. JAMA 1988; 260(13): 1917–1921.
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