Identification and Differentiation of Viral and Bacterial Respiratory Infection to Guide Antibiotic Stewardship
Identification and Differentiation of Viral and Bacterial Respiratory Infection to Guide Antibiotic Stewardship
Identification and Differentiation of Viral and Bacterial Respiratory Infection to Guide Antibiotic Stewardship
The development of point-of-care testing is critical in the identification and differentiation between bacterial and viral respiratory infections. Defining the indications of infection to improve antibiotic stewardship, ensures that patients are protected from unnecessary antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. It has been shown that particular protein biomarkers, such as myxovirus resistance protein (MxA) and C-reactive protein (CRP), differentiate infections between bacterial and viral. Using point-of-care platforms, such as Randox’s VeraSTAT, for detection of these protein biomarkers may provide more rapid and cost-effective discriminating tools.
The treatment of bacterial and viral infections can differ significantly, however people are often treated with empirical antibiotics due to a lack of paid and accurate testing. Although early intervention of infection is urgent, current diagnostic methods are either time intensive or inaccurate. The challenges clinicians are faced with in the differentiation of viral or bacterial respiratory infection can lead to delayed diagnosis, misappropriation of antibiotics and increased healthcare costs.
MxA protein has the potential to greatly enhance the rapid detection of viral respiratory infections as it increases significantly when there is actuate viral infection. CRP is the dominant acute phase protein often used to guide treatment of a bacterial infection or inflammation associated with tissue injury, inflammatory disorders, and associated diseases.
CRP & MxA together, allow clinicians to make appropriate decisions in supporting antimicrobial stewardship and guide the appropriate use of antibiotics, saving time performing unnecessary tests, providing unnecessary treatment which missing the opportunity to provide the right treatment in a timely manner.
The Randox VeraSTAT is a simple, accurate, portable point of care device which delivers rapid results via the use of patented cathodic electrochemiluminescence technology (C-ECL). Designed with the aim of offering users the next generation of rapid diagnosis, the VeraSTAT eliminates the requirement to send samples to a laboratory and instead returns results in as little as 6 minutes.
- Eliminates delays in sending samples to the lab and facilitate immediate decision making at the point of care.
- Lightweight, portable and convenient, the Randox VeraSTAT can be used in a variety of locations to deliver results as required, such as a GP surgery or Emergency Department.
- Intuitive user interface guides the operator through the entire testing process.
- All necessary reagents are conveniently included in each single use, sealed cassette with no preparation required. All necessary consumables are supplied with the kit.
- The Randox VeraSTAT allows for results to be exported via Bluetooth connectivity.
- Flexible test menu comprising of a range of immunoassay, protein, inflammatory, diabetes & infectious disease markers.
Novel testing approaches identifying the type of infection at the point of care are essential in accurately guiding appropriate antibiotic treatment. Although these tests can’t determine what type of viral or bacterial infection a patient has, it will determine whether the infection is viral or bacterial, further testing is then carried out to determine what type of pathogen the patient has via PCR – the gold standard. The ability to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections is the most effective guide for clinical decision making and is an innovative tool for antibiotic stewardship.
References
1 – Fleming-Dutra K.E., Hersh A.L., Shapiro D.J. Prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions among US ambulatory care visits, 2010–2011. JAMA. 2016;315:1864–1873. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.4151.
2 – Cals JW, Hopstaken RM, Butler CC, Hood K, Severens JL, Dinant GJ. Improving management of patients with acute cough by C-reactive protein point of care testing and communication training (IMPAC3T): study protocol of a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Fam Pract. 2007;8:15.
3- New report calls for urgent action to avert antimicrobial resistance crisis [Internet]. World Health Organization. World Health Organization; 2019
4 – Hutchings MI, Truman AW, Wilkinson B. Antibiotics: past, present and future. Curr Opin Microbiol. (2019) 51:72–80. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.10.008
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Randox response to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report, āGovernmentās contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltdā
27th July 2022: Randox response to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report, ‘Government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltd’
A spokesperson for Randox said:
“The PAC report is deeply flawed and wrong in assumptions it makes and the conclusions it draws about Randox.
“As the UK’s largest diagnostic company, with four decades of experience, over 2,000 professional staff on hand at the start of the pandemic and more than £350m of prior investment in diagnostic and engineering innovation, Randox was uniquely situated to respond to the national need when COVID-19 emerged in early 2020.
“In supporting the UK’s urgent requirement for coronavirus testing Randox reacted with speed, efficiency and flexibility in delivering value. The company developed and built, in record time, the UK’s largest COVID-19 laboratories and testing services. It provided the Department of Health and Social Care with a PCR testing capacity at the time of greatest need, rising from 300 tests per day to 120,000 per day by January 2021.
“Altogether Randox processed over 25 million samples for UK’s National Testing Programme and in support of international travel for business and personal reasons. This played a crucial role in keeping vital elements of the UK economy functioning during lockdowns.
“In adapting to rapidly changing DHSC and Department of Transport requirements, Randox delivered unique value to the government, the national economy and to individuals.
“At no stage, either during its deliberations or in its preparation of this report, did the PAC make any contact whatsoever with Randox. Consequently many elements of its report relating to Randox are false, based as they are, on wrong and unchecked assumptions about the company. For that reason, they and any publications arising from them are the subject of a legal complaint.”
“The issues the report raises around internal DHSC record keeping are clearly a matter for DHSC”
For all media enquiries, please contact Ian Monk on ian@ianmonk.com or +44 7970 026072 / + 44 203 011 1933
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Biomedical Science Day 2022
Biomedical Science Day 2022
Biomedical Science Day is taking place this year on Thursday 9th June 2022. This is an annual celebration to increase the awareness of Biomedical Science and to promote to the public the importance of it.
Biomedical scientists play a key role in diagnosis, quality development and assurance, treatment, research, and development in the modern medical sciences. To celebrate and give recognition we have interviewed one of our RCLS clinical deputy managers, Jayme Hamilton.
This is what Jayme has to say about his role in Biomedical Science:
1. What attracted you to pursue a career in biomedical science?
My degree was in Biological Sciences with Professional Studies. Through it, I was able to design my degree based in my own interests and curiosities, which drew me to exploring the molecular and chemical pathways that elicit biological pathways and also how biotechnology is opening up a future to personalised health and therapies. What I find interesting it how a complete complement of biomarkers needs to be assessed to offer a full illustration of what’s going on under the skin.
2. How many different labs have you worked in?
I have been fortunate to work within several Laboratories to some capacity early in my career. I had a very fulfilling placement within a Method Development and Validation lab at a pharmaceutical company, as well as completing a challenging honours project in population genetics in my final year of university. Since joining Randox, I have had opportunities to work across several Clinical and Molecular Laboratories with talented colleagues from all sorts of backgrounds; within Liverpool and London in England, Holywood and Antrim in N. Ireland and Los Angeles in California.
3. Do you enjoy the practical or theoretical aspect of biomedical science?
Theoretical- I have a drive to learn and understand and thankfully in science that is a continuous journey, as new forms of diagnostics and analysis are born and our understanding can grow or even change. With a good understanding of the science and a multidisciplinary team of talented individuals to collaborate with, it makes executing the practical work all the more rewarding.
4. What is your favourite part of your day in work?
The end of the day -but not why you might think. I have been trying to be more reflective and as the start of the day can be very busy and hands on, I have found it helpful to review my workload and responsibilities, as well as that of those I help lead, at the end of the day; to better look ahead to tomorrow and acknowledge the efforts of the team.
5. What’s in your lab coat pocket?
Pens, markers, and more pens. My favourite being my engineering pen, with a torch and stylus included. Thankfully we push for a more paperless world, but a busy lab can need some quick notes to be made. I’m also a very visual person and find it easiest to communicate to colleagues with notes or even a quick sketch.
6. In your opinion, what are the most important aspects of laboratory work?
The results we release. Fundamentally the data we release it for the benefit to the individual they deprived from. By stringently monitoring our quality checks and adhering to the procedures and processes we implement, we can have confidence that the results we release have a high level qualitative and interpretive value.
7. In what ways does your work make a difference to people’s lives?
At a personal level, as a clinical deputy manager I aim to optimise and evolve the duties of the colleagues I work with to make their jobs easier and more fulfilling and by extension the functionality of the lab more efficient.
In doing so, I broadly think the work we are doing as a collective, is bringing personalised testing to the masses and in doing so, add to improving the public’s understanding of science, in such that they can begin to take their health into their own hands in a measurable and meaningful way.
8. What is your dream career within biomedical science?
Living the dream. So far in my career I have been able to learn and develop within a profession that aligns with my interests, whilst simultaneously contributing to expanding and exciting industry. Throughout which I have had the opportunity to collaborate with many fantastic, talented, intelligent and hardworking people, from an array of disciplines, during the growth of a impressive clinical testing service as well as a nationwide covid testing service.
Jayme is a fundamental member of Randox and plays an essential role in the team, as do all our employees. Without our valuable laboratory team working extremely hard behind the scenes the lifesaving work we do here at Randox would not be possible. We thank each one of you for your hard work every day.
To find out more about our Biomedical Science, contact us at market@randox.com
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Randox to deliver Ā£10m investment for major UK research project
Diagnostics and personalised health company Randox to deliver £10m investment for major UK research project Our Future Health
Randox, the Northern Ireland-based diagnostics and personalised health company, has today been announced as one of four new industry partners in the Our Future Health (OFH) programme, which will be the UK’s largest ever health research programme.
Randox will deliver a £10m investment in the programme, which will discover and develop new methods of prevention, early detection and treatment of diseases and health conditions.
The company is one of four new partners who will deliver a total of £40m to OFH. They join 10 additional life sciences companies that were previously announced as funding partners in January 2022. As well as its £10m investment, Randox will contribute its world-leading expertise to the programme. Its network of 20 High Street clinics, including those in Holywood and Crumlin, will also be available if required to test volunteers from across the UK taking part in the OFH project. The project aims to monitor the long-term health of 5 million volunteers in the coming years, starting this autumn.
Andrew Roddam, Chief Executive of OFH, said: “We are delighted to be announcing a further four industry partners for OFH, who together will provide an additional £40m to further our objective to develop new ways to prevent, detect and treatments enabling people to live healthier lives for longer. We welcome Randox as one of these partners, knowing their long-term commitment to diagnostics, and look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
OFH has also joined with 16 health research charities, who have endorsed the pilot phase of the programme and are providing valuable support and experience.
Volunteers will be asked to complete an online health questionnaire, give their informed consent to link information from their healthcare records to OFH and donate a small blood sample.
Volunteers are also being asked to give their permission for OFH to contact them in the future to give them the opportunity to take part in follow-on research and to provide personal feedback about their health, should they wish to receive it.
Researchers from across the life sciences community, including academia, industry and the NHS, will be able to apply to study OFH resources as part of their crucial research to accelerate the discovery and development of innovative diagnostics and treatments.
Volunteers’ data will be de-identified and held in ‘trusted research environments’ that meet strict security criteria and an access board, which will include independent experts and members of the public, to ensure OFH resources are only used for health research in the public interest.
Randox Managing Director, Dr Peter FitzGerald said:
“Randox has been engaged from the very outset and is now excited to formally support this world-leading research project, both as a funding member and with our considerable expertise.
“With over 40 years of diagnostic experience, and extensive research capabilities, Randox knows that a personalised approach to the early detection and prevention of disease is not only critical to saving and extending life, but also to improving the quality of our lives. This project will further those critical goals. The ability for participants to receive feedback on their health from the project, and to engage with future research, also promotes Randox’s objective of greater individual ownership of health.
“Randox is committed to providing accessible and affordable testing to drive significant health improvements through the early detection and prevention of disease. ‘Our Future Health’ is perfectly aligned with that vision.”
Members of the public who are interested in taking part in Our Future Health later this year can register for news and updates at www.ourfuturehealth.org.uk
For more information contact:
Mia Taylor
mia.taylor@woburnpartners.com
+44 (0) 7891525749
James Robinson
james.robinson@woburnpartners.com
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