Two new Anti-Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) ELISAs provide reliable detection of HEVspecific antibodies of class IgG and IgM. The IgG ELISA is, moreover, the only commercial HEV ELISA to provide quantification in international units (IU/ml). The assay is calibrated according to the WHO reference serum and shows first-rate linearity with respect to this standard. The ELISA microplates are coated with highly purified recombinant HEV structural proteins, which ensure high sensitivity and specificity in antibody detection. The Anti-HEV ELISAs are ideal for differential diagnosis, for epidemiological studies and, in combination with PCR, for blood donor screening. The tests are easy to perform and can be fully automated on microplate processing systems such as the company’s Analyzer series. Infections with HEV are the most frequent cause on non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide. They are generally acquired fecal-orally via contaminated drinking water or food (e.g. insufficiently cooked pork). HEV is endemic primarily in countries with low standards of hygiene, but is also increasingly observed in industrialized nations. HEV infections generally take a mild course, but in rare cases they can lead to acute liver failure. Prognosis is particularly poor in pregnant women, and in this group the mortality rate reaches up to 20%. Since an HEV infection resembles hepatitis A and other hepatides in the preliminary stages, differential diagnostic tests as part of the clinical and laboratory investigation are essential. Alongside PCR analysis of viral RNA in blood or stool, the serological detection of HEV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies plays a decisive role in acute HEV diagnostics.
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Cystatin C high quality reagent, from Randox Laboratories

Cystatin C is a small cysteine proteinase inhibitor produced at a constant rate by all nucleated cells.  The small molecular weight of Cystatin C allows it to be removed and completely broken down by the kidneys.

Advantages of Cystatin C over Creatinine include:

• It is virtually unaffected by non-renal factors, such as muscle, mass, weight, height or age;

• Highly sensitive to small changes in GFR;

• Can be used to monitor renal function in individuals with liver disease. 

The Randox Cystatin C reagent is suitable for both serum and plasma samples; liquid ready-to-use, offers excellent precision and has a wide measuring range allowing normal and abnormal values to be measured without any additional dilution. 

Website:             http://www.randox.com/clinical-chemistry-reagents.php

Email:                 marketing@randox.com
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Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic bacteria that grows in the intestine when the normal flora has been altered by treatment with antibiotics. Only toxigenic strains cause infections from mild-diarrhea to pseudomembranous colitis, potentially leading to death. Detection of Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GDH) that is an antigen marker of C.difficile proliferation allows significant cost reduction in lab diagnosis for suspected C.difficile samples. Positive GDH samples should be investigated further to test for the toxins A or/and B. The Coris C. diff-Strip is a ready-to-use immunochromatographic test that allows the specific detection of C.difficile GDH in stool specimens in a strip format. When the fecal suspension comes into contact with the strip, the solubilized conjugate migrates with the sample and both reagents come into contact with the anti-Clostridium GDH antibody adsorbed onto the nitrocellulose. If the sample contains C.difficile GDH, a red line develops. The result is visible within 15 minutes.
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In line with current clinical needs, Diazyme’s new 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Assay measures total true 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D levels (D2 + D3 levels) in both serum and plasma samples. Furthermore, the assay fully automates the removal of non-specific protein binding and cross reactivity that may occur in competing assays, thereby assuring results will be both precise and accurate.  The 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D assay is both fast and flexible with complete testing results in under 2 hours. The test is user-friendly and can be used manually or easily adapted for use on a wide range of fully automated microtitre plate readers, making it suitable for use in laboratories of all sizes and testing needs. Traditionally, testing of Vitamin D levels has been predominantly used for the diagnosis and management of patients with Vitamin D deficiency. Recent clinical studies though have linked Vitamin D deficiency to various diseases including cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and all-cause mortality.  This new understanding of the importance of Vitamin D levels has driven an increase in the number of physician requests for total 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D tests in the United States and worldwide. The assay takes a much shorter time and can be fully automated when it is run on ELISA instruments such as the Dynex DS2® and DSX® platforms.

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The Power Link offers laboratories the ability to combine Beckman Coulter’s AU680 chemistry analyzer with a DxI immunoassay analyzer to form an entry-level automated workcell to streamline laboratory workflow. Beckman Coulter’s Power Link delivers high-capacity specimen processing power and flexibility to meet clinical laboratory workload challenges. Designed to help enhance efficiency, reduce costs and speed the delivery of test results, the Power Link features:

• Parallel processing of shared chemistry and immunoassay specimens

• Single point of loading and unloading for shared chemistry and immunoassay samples for rapid processing

• Integrated decapper to minimize biohazard exposure risk and repetitive motion injuries

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