Immunoassay Analyzer Rapidly Assesses Cardiac Markers

The analyzer also offers markers for coagulation, infection, and pregnancy.

Called the AQT90 FLEX immunoassay analyzer, it utilizes a time-resolved fluorescence method to detect sandwich complexes formed between capture antibodies, europium chelate-labelled fluorescent tracer antibodies, and the antigen of interest.

The analyzer offers quality control and comprehensive system quality checks of every process to ensure that each test is performed error-free, providing accurate results at the point of care. It minimizes background fluorescence and detects small amounts of analyte.

The analyzer is a Radiometer (Crawley, United Kingdom) product. The companies IT systems provide complete remote control of decentrally placed analyzers that emulate the data control and flow of a central laboratory, with the potential to encompass multiple hospitals within a region.

Barnsley Hospital (Barnsley, United Kingdom) has recently installed Radiometer’s AQT90 FLEX analyzer in its emergency department, where it enables rapid assessment of patients presenting with chest pain. Dr James Griffiths, a consultant in emergency medicine at the hospital, described studies using Radiometer’s AQT90 FLEX. He stated that it provided "a closed system that is extremely easy to use; the sample tube is placed directly in the analyzer, eliminating the need for further handling of samples and reagents. Low risk patients undergo cardiac marker assessment on arrival and again at 90 minutes. If the test results and the accompanying electrocardiograms (ECGs) are normal, they can be discharged within four hours, avoiding the 12-hour wait associated with the traditional troponin test. It’s better for the patient, and the benefit to the hospital is that it reduces admissions and relieves pressure on acute care beds."

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Barnsley Hospital