StatStrip
Blood glucose monitor corrects hematocrit interference
A blood glucose monitoring system from Nova Biomedical, Waltham, Mass, elevates bedside glucose testing to a new level of analytical performance comparable to the quality of central laboratory testing. The Nova StatStrip point-of-care glucose monitor incorporates a patented new strip technology that uses four measuring wells, while many glucose strips use only one well. The Multi-Well system measures and corrects hematocrit interference as well as interferences from acetaminophen, uric acid, ascorbic acid, maltose, galactose, xylose, and lactose. StatStrip also eliminates oxygen interference to provide accurate glucose results, regardless of the sample’s oxygen status.
The unit’s 6-second analysis time, color touch screen operation, and simple operating steps make bedside glucose testing fast and easy for point-of-care staff. Its small 1.2 µL sample size results in easy sample acquisition and minimal pain for the patient. Unlike competitive glucose analyzers, StatStrip requires no calibration codes, thereby eliminating an operator step and preventing a potential input error. Comprehensive instrument manager software provides management, control, and regulatory compliance, and allows the StatStrip system to be completely customized to the needs of each department within the hospital.
Nova Biomedical
(800) 458-5813; www.novabiomedical.com
Point-of-Care Controls
For urinalysis, hemoglobin, and occult blood testing
The Thermo Fisher Scientific, Milford, Mass, point-of-care controls for near patient testing in the hospital and physician office focus on urinalysis, hemoglobin, and occult blood testing. The urinalysis control is a ready-to-use, liquid control that can be stored at room temperature for 6 months. It works on most major brands of urine strips and automated strip readers. The hemoglobin control, which is available in low, normal, and high levels, is a liquid whole- blood control with 2-year closed vial dating, 60-day open vial stability, and 30-day room temperature storage. The occult blood control is the only commercial external control available on the market. It has 12-month room temperature storage and a 2-year shelf life. It works on most popular tests in the market.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc
(800) 556-7575; www.nerl.com
Xsera
Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Controls
RNA Medical, a division of Bionostics Inc, Devens, Mass, announces the introduction of Xsera Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Controls. This product has been evaluated for use with FDA-cleared rapid HIV test kits. The controls are solutions of heat- inactivated human plasma and require no reconstitution before use. They feature a 2-year shelf life when stored refrigerated (2-8°C), and may be stored for up to 60 days at room temperature (up to 30°C) after opening. They are provided in screw-cap vials, each containing 1 mL of solution. Kits contain one vial each of HIV-1 antibody positive, HIV-2 antibody positive, and HIV antibody negative controls. HIV-1 positive control source materials are reactive for antibodies to HIV-1. HIV-2 positive control source materials are reactive for antibodies to HIV-2. HIV negative control source materials are nonreactive for antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2.
RNA Medical
(800) 533-6162; www.RNAMedical.com
FasTox 12
Tests for 12 drug classes
The ATN FasTox 12 is a rapid drug-testing device designed for hospital laboratories to perform urine drug assessments for the emergency department. The device is provided by Advanced Toxicology Network, Memphis, TN, a large SAMHSA-certified drug testing laboratory. Recently, the unit was given CLIA Waived Test status by the FDA. The device is easy to use and provides test results in 5 minutes, with results stable up to one hour. The procedure is a simple 10-second dip into the urine specimen. It tests for 12 drug classes: amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, marijuana, methadone, opiates (codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine), oxycodone, phencyclidine, and tricyclic antidepressants. The increased abuse of methadone, oxycodone (Oxycontin) and Ecstasy in recent years makes testing for these drugs in an emergency setting important. The additional drugs on the unit can increase reimbursement to the hospital, and the simple procedure and CLIA Waived Test status make its use convenient anytime of day, every day. A poster presentation at the July 2007 American Association for Clinical Chemistry national meeting, “Verification of the Accuracy of the ATN FasTox in Drugs-of-Abuse Screening,” will describe the results of a study of the device.
Advanced Toxicology Network
(888) 290-1150; www.atnlabs.com
The Dropper Plus
Point-of-care urine dipstick control
The Dropper Plus from Quantimetrix Corp, Redondo Beach, Calif, is specifically designed for point-of-care dipstick control. Its 1-month room temperature stability eliminates storage problems and provides maximum portability—ideal for sites without refrigeration. A new feature is the addition of creatinine and microalbumin. Values are provided for all analytes; qualitative results for hCG for early pregnancy detection test methods are included. This control is intended for use with Multistix, Chemstrip, DiaScreen, UriScan, pH (Nitrazine paper), and other urinalysis reagent strips. It can also be used for confirmatory tests such as Acetest, Clinitest, Ictotest reagent tablets, and refractometry. This product is liquid, human urine–based, and comes with an 18-month unopened and open vial stability when stored at 2°C to 8°C (from date of manufacture). A comparative quality control program, Quantrol, available for Quantimetrix products, provides labs with free monthly reports to monitor test performance and trend analysis.
Quantimetrix Corp
(800) 624-8380; www.4qc.com
Opti R Blood Gas Analyzer
With reusable sensor cassettes
OPTI Medical Systems Inc, Roswell, Ga, manufactures and markets the Opti R Blood Gas Analyzer with a reusable sensor cassette for the direct measurement of pH/blood gas, total hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, sodium, potassium, and ionized calcium. The analyzer provides a color touch screen with step-by-step images, zero maintenance, room temperature storage of sensor cassettes, and onboard quality control for simplified operation, making it fit well in STAT environments and small-to-medium workload settings. Osmetech PLC transferred ownership of the OPTI portfolio of point-of-care analyzers to OPTI Medical Systems Inc, a division of IDEXX Laboratories Inc, on February 1, 2007. The company continues to operate in the same facility previously occupied by Osmetech, which is the worldwide headquarters for the current OPTI product line, as well as future developments. A skilled team of more than 90 employees, experienced with the OPTI product line, also transferred. To date, the OPTI product line has established market positions throughout the world with an existing customer base of more than 7,000 instruments.
OPTI Medical Systems Inc
(800) 490-6784; www.optimedical.com
Cardiac STATus
Marker results in minutes
Cardiac STATus rapid tests based on proprietary immunoassay technology from Nanogen, San Diego, are designed to deliver time-critical cardiac diagnostic information in accord with American Heart Association and American College of Cardiologists guidelines. Qualitative cardiac marker results are obtained in 15 minutes without instrumentation. The line of rapid diagnostic tools assists clinicians in the immediate risk stratification of patients experiencing chest pain. Multiple cardiac marker results are available within minutes. The Cardiac STATus line includes four FDA-cleared tests that can be used at the point-of-care to determine elevations of cardiac markers, providing an aid to physicians to assess and diagnose acute coronary syndrome as indicated by chest pain. The tests can be stored at room temperature and are easy to read with the i-Lynx, a portable reader designed to capture and analyze the results of the Cardiac STATus products as well as other rapid tests.
Nanogen Inc
(877) 626-6436; www.nanogen.com
