Co-oximetry is a methodology that measures the levels of the oxygen-carrying protein hemoglobin, which is the chief component of red blood cells. Co-oximetry is a useful tool in that it helps determine the levels of various forms of hemoglobin and can be used to diagnose a variety of conditions related to oxygen content in blood. Oxygen content is an important indicator of oxygen transport within the body. The oxygen transport of arterial blood is used to evaluate the ability of transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissue.
Randox Quality Control announce the launch of a new CO-Oximetry programme to complement their existing Blood Gas programme. Combining 7 parameters in a user-friendly, liquid ready-to-use format, the new RIQAS CO-Oximetry EQA programme has been designed with consolidation and convenience in mind – it’s even suitable for use in point-of-care testing.
RIQAS is the world’s largest EQA scheme with 45,000 participants and 33 programmes ensuring peer groups are maximized.  The added benefit of comprehensive yet user-friendly reports available within 72 hours of the submission date allowing corrective action to be taken in a timely manner saves time, money, and reputation by eliminating the need for expensive retesting, providing peace of mind.
To complement the RIQAS CO-Oximetry EQA programme, the RIQAS Blood Gas EQA programme incorporates 10 parameters into a liquid ready-to-use format for ease of use.
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The DxM MicroScan WalkAway system is a diagnostic system for bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing for microbiology laboratories. The DxM MicroScan WalkAway system uses direct minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for detection of antimicrobial resistance, offering greater confidence in results through gold-standard accuracy and the broadest breadth of first-time reporting. Emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi, according to the World Health Organization. Up to 50,000 people die because of AMR in the U.S. and Europe alone, and one study claims that 10 million people a year could die from this global crisis by the year 2050. Timely, accurate detection of emerging AMR is of critical importance in helping to ensure patients are protected against the risk of worsening infection or its progression to life-threatening conditions such as sepsis or septic shock.
The DxM MicroScan WalkAway system allows detection of emerging resistance to the toughest pathogens. As new issues have arisen, such as carbapenemases or other resistance mechanisms, MicroScan has adapted. The panels have been updated to assist in identifying these new resistance mechanisms. At the same time, the system’s delivery of first-time gold-standard MIC accuracy helps laboratories achieve their operational goals by reducing costs associated with confirmatory—or offline—testing. Added workflow enhancements include a new fluid-level sensing technology for added assurance, easy-to-view external LED indicators that show status at a glance, quick bottle release that simplifies reagent maintenance, and integrated reliability improvements that maximize uptime. The DxM MicroScan WalkAway system is part of a full line of microbiology solutions from Beckman Coulter. Automation and standardization of all core aspects of specimen testing creates workflow efficiencies for the laboratory.
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KLoneus®, the TRIMERO’s new generation of Kappa and Lambda Free Light Chain assays, based on polyclonal specific antibodies, have been developed specifically to assay “neat” urine samples on Siemens’ BN™ nephelometric systems, by particle enhanced nephelometric method, with antigen excess control using the pre-reaction feature.
In order to ensure lot to lot traceability, values have been referred to the European Reference Material ERM-DA470k/IFCC (Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, IRMM).
KLoneus® results, with excellent repeatability, correlate well with the quantification by densitometry of the Bence Jones proteinuria.
Other available assays for Siemens’ BN™ nephelometric systems include 
C1q Complement, C5 Complement, C3 pro-activator (Factor B), IgD (with pre-reaction feature)

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Free 25OH Vitamin D kit is a CE marked ELISA kit available worldwide from Diasource ImmunoAssays SA (Belgium). Recent posters and publications clearly show that Free 25OH Vitamin D is a better marker than Total 25OH Vitamin D in healthy pregnant women, in women taking hormonal contraceptives and in diabetic patients with impaired kidney function. This kit allows a direct measurement of the Free 25OH Vitamin D, so no calculations are needed based on Total 25OH Vitamin D -, Albumin – and VDBP (vitamin D binding protein) concentrations, and this without sample pre-treatment. The assay is calibrated against Rate Dialysis, which is the golden standard method for the measurement of free hormones, and uses only 10 microliters of serum.
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