November focus: Drugs of Abuse
November focus: Drugs of Abuse
Throughout November, the Randox clinical teams – Randox Reagents, Randox Rx series and Randox QC – will be highlighting how the Randox product range can be utilised to allow for the most accurate analysis of Drugs of Abuse, with a particular focus placed with the Evidence MultiSTAT. The Evidence MultiSTAT is a fast, fully automated and versatile immunoanalyser that enables on-site detection of up to 21 Drugs of Abuse from a single sample of oral fluid, urine or blood.
Drugs of Abuse are a growing problem worldwide and represent a significant burden to healthcare systems as well as creating problems in an individual’s lifestyle. It has been estimated by the WHO (World Health Organisation) that 31 million people globally suffer from drug use disorders and 3.3 million deaths each year are linked to the abuse of both drugs and alcohol.
Randox have reacted to this growing concern and are now a world leader in the Drugs of Abuse testing field. Our product range currently comprises classical, prescription and synthetic drugs.
The Evidence MultiSTAT offers a simple drug screening solution to those who have little or no knowledge of laboratory procedures. As an extremely versatile desktop analyser, it is ideally suited to a variety of settings including both the clinical laboratory and the emergency room.
Randox Reagents – Drugs of Abuse Assays
In order to assist in dealing with the ongoing burden of substance abuse, Randox Reagents offer a comprehensive range of ten assays to test for some of the top most commonly-abused substances including alcohol, methamphetamines, cocaine, methadone, cannabis, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, EDDP and ecstasy and opiates. The Randox Drugs of Abuse assays are liquid, ready-to-use for increased efficiency and applications are available for over 30 different analysers.
RX Series – Toxicology testing
Renowned for quality and reliability, the RX series range of clinical chemistry analysers boasts a world-leading test menu comprising of both therapeutic drugs and Drugs of Abuse. Our toxicology range comprises amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine metabolite, ecstasy, EDDP, ethanol, methadone and opiates. The RX series range of clinical chemistry analysers ensures a high degree of accuracy with a wide range of testing throughputs to suit all laboratories, big or small.
RIQAS Urine Toxicology Programme
Designed to monitor the performance of 20 Drugs of Abuse tests in urine, our RIQAS urine toxicology EQA program is suitable for both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. As the largest EQA scheme in the world, access to large peer groups is guaranteed. Additional benefits include; monthly analysis, user-friendly reports allowing at-a-glance performance assessment, ability to register up to five instruments per programme and cost savings via our unrivalled consolidation.
For more information about Randox RX, Randox Reagents or Randox QC, please email marketing@randox.com.
Randox Health partners with Tim Cogley Cardiac Screening Foundation to offer free health checks in Wirral
Randox Health is today delighted to announce that it is partnering with the Tim Cogley Cardiac Screening Foundation to offer free health checks for young adults across Wirral.
On 9th April 2017 Tim Cogley, an apparently fit and healthy 34-year-old, suffered a fatal heart attack whilst walking home after a night out with friends. Despite showing no symptoms, Tim had a 75% cholesterol blockage of the left descending coronary artery. Since then his family have set up the Tim Cogley Foundation to help raise awareness of coronary heart screening in 18 to 39-year-olds.
Throughout November, the charity, in association with Randox Health, will offer free health checks, including heart screening, to men and women between the ages of 18 and 39 in Wirral.
Appointments will last around 15 minutes and will involve blood pressure testing, body composition analysis and blood sampling to test for glucose concentration (relating to diabetes risk), lipid profile results (including important Total Cholesterol: HDL Cholesterol ratios), and additional key biomarkers relevant to CVD risk, including kidney function tests.
Participants aged 25 or over will also be provided with a unique Cardiovascular Risk Score, which details your risk of experiencing a cardiac event over the next 10 years.
Frank Cogley, Tim’s father, said of the cardiac screening:
“There are many types of heart disease. The national media sadly, but regularly, report instances of young people suddenly dying, as in the case of our youngest son Tim, from undiagnosed heart disease. The current lack of routine screening of 18-39 year olds leaves a gaping chasm in our healthcare provision but with our highly motivated partner, Randox Health, we hope to redress this through lifestyle changes and preventative health programmes.
“The Tim Cogley Cardiac Screening Foundation is committed to delivering positive, action-focused and life-changing programmes. The essence of the charity, and its whole approach of reaching out to help others, reflects Tim’s character and, in that sense, keeps alive his driving force. I can’t imagine a legacy more in tune with the generous, kind and supportive person that was Tim.”
Dates for the screening are as follows:
- Thursday, November 1 – 4pm to 8pm – Tesco, Telegraph Road, Heswall
- Saturday, November 3 – 10am to 4pm – Tesco, Telegraph Road, Heswall
- Tuesday, November 6 – 10am to 2pm – Warrens Medical Centre, Arrowe Park Road
- Thursday, November 8 – 4pm to 8pm – UTS Foundation, Newhall Lane, Hoylake
- Monday, November 12 – 10am to 2pm – Wirral Met 12 Quays Campus, Shore Road, Birkenhead
- Wednesday, November 14 – 4pm to 8pm – Caldy Sports Club, Telegraph Road, Thurstaston
- Saturday, November 17 – 10am to 2pm – Eastham Drop In Centre, 31 Eastham Rake
- Tuesday, November 20 – 10am to 2pm – Warrens Medical Centre, Arrowe Park Road
- Thursday, November 22 – 4pm to 8pm – UTS Foundation, Newhall Lane, Hoylake
- Monday, November 26 – 10am to 2pm – Greasby Medical Centre, Greasby Road
- Wednesday, November 28 – 4pm to 8pm – Drop In Centre, Victoria General Hospital, Marymount Close, Wallasey
- Saturday, December 1 – 10am to 2pm – Wirral Met Oval Campus, Old Chester Road, Bebington
Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Health, commented:
“It is an honour to be partnering with Frank and the team at The Tim Cogley Cardiac Screening Foundation to offer young people across Wirral and Merseyside the chance to avail of the advanced health screening we provide at Randox Health. We know all too well the benefit of prevention over cure, and you need look no further than Frank Cogley who is working tirelessly to turn his son’s tragic death into a force for good to see how important this is. It is so encouraging therefore to see how popular this initiative has proven thus far, and we are now adding further screening slots to our clinic in Exchange Station to accommodate the high demand.”
Further screening will take place at the Randox Health Liverpool Clinic, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool L2 2QP, so if you would like to participate please visit www.timcogleyfoundation.com/cardiac-screening to read the pre-screening information, and then call Randox Health on 0151 665 0700 to book your appointment.
During the month of November Randox Health Liverpool will also be offering free Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests in celebration of Movember, Men’s Health Month. Offering a pre-cursor to a physical examination, the Randox Health prostate health check can stratify patients who may need referred on for further testing.
For further information about Randox Health’s partnership with The Tim Cogley Cardiac Screening Foundation or about our complimentary Prostate Health Checks please contact Randox PR by emailing randoxpr@randox.com or phoning 028 9442 2413.
Randox Biosciences and Mental Health & Wellbeing Month
Mental Health Day is held every year on the 10th of October since 1992 1 to raise awareness and support against the stigma. 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience mental illness each year 2.
“Everyone has mental health. It involves our emotional, psychological and social well-being and it affects how we feel, think and act” 3 Mental Health can also affect an individual’s daily life, relationships and physical health. Lives are taken as a result from mental health therefore it is vital that we acknowledge the syndromes of mental health in order provide help and support.
Randox held a mental health and well-being month. This entailed a yellow shirt day, an organised free-fall abseiling from the dome of Victoria Square, cake sale and yoga throughout the month! Randox care for the health of their staff and want to ensure that mental health is just as important as physical and that it is ok to not be ok.
At Randox Biosciences, we are devoted to the development of innovative diagnostic tests to improve patient care worldwide. We strive to maintain a stress-free environment for our employees by recognising the signs of mental health to lower mental health in order to create a positive working environment.
- Reach out. If you feel like you experience mental health, talk to someone. It will lift the weight off your shoulders and you could get the help you require.
- Do something you enjoy! It can be a hobby or spending time with your family and friends.
- Go for a walk. Fresh air can clear a head.
- Take time out of digital devices. Technology have taken over and sometimes taking an hour off social medias can help.
- Sleep more. Having a full night’s sleep can change your mood completely.
- Eat well and exercise. It is easy to forget your physical health. When you have a nutritional diet and exercise regularly, you’re stronger and healthier.
- Avoid alcohol and drug-use.
Help-lines for mental health include the following:
To find out more email us at info@randoxbiosciences.com
Connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn
Sources:
International Cannabis Abuse
The 2018 UN World Drug Report calculated that around 275 million people worldwide used drugs at least once in 2016 and some 31 million of those suffer from a drug use disorder.
Cannabis was the most commonly used drug in 2016, with 192 million people using it at least once that year. The global number of cannabis users continues to rise and appears to have increased by roughly 16 per cent in the decade ending 2016, which is in line with the increase of the world population.
The quantities of cannabis seized worldwide fell by 27 per cent, to 4,386 tons in 2016. This decline was particularly noticed in North America, where the medical cannabis in many states and the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use may have played a role in the declining figures. There is evidence from Western countries that the perceived easy availability of cannabis, coupled with perceptions of a low risk of harm, makes the drug among the most common substances whose use is initiated in adolescence. Cannabis is often used in conjunction with other substances and the use of other drugs is typically tried after recreational cannabis use.
As the need for vital drug screening continues to increase, Randox Toxicology are leading the way in developing new and novel drugs of abuse tests. Capable of detecting up to 21 classical, prescription and synthetic drugs from a single sample including cannabinoids, our fully automated Evidence MultiSTAT analyser utilises our Biochip Array Technology to deliver reliable and accurate results in under 20 minutes.
For further information about the Evidence MultiSTAT and our cutting-edge multiplex testing capabilities, contact info@randoxtoxicology.com to be put in touch with a sales member or visit www.randoxtoxicology.com.
We Are Randox | Team Randox scales the heights of Victoria Square for AWARE NI
On Sunday 21st October 2018, a team of brave Randox colleagues faced their fears and took part in a ‘freefall’ abseil from the dome of Victoria Square, Belfast. Scaling the heights of the 147ft, almost 45m drop, our fourteen daring Randox thrill seekers enjoyed views over Belfast before they stepped over the edge of the lilypad and ventured down to the ground floor of one of Belfast’s most recognisable structures.
The event took place as part of Randox’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Month throughout October, which sought to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing among staff members while fundraising for our two charity partners – AWARE NI and Ulster University’s Mind Your Mood. Events in the month have not only included a Victoria Square abseil but also a Wear Yellow Wednesday for World Mental Health Day, a fundraising coffee morning and internal fundraising bake sales along with yoga and relaxation class offers for staff members.
Congratulations to those all abseil participants! While this may be something else ticked off your ‘bucket list’, it also, most importantly, is a fantastic effort in raising awareness and funds for the work of AWARE NI, Northern Ireland’s depression charity.
Well done to everyone with your fundraising. You have all worked very hard and raised a fantastic amount – around £2000 so far and counting!
We hope you enjoy the photographs from the day. If you would still like to donate, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/companyteams/RANDOXAWARE
Once again, many thanks on behalf of both Randox and AWARE NI to the Randox abseilers for their enthusiasm and fundraising efforts on behalf of both Randox and AWARE NI.
For more information about the abseil or Randox Mental Health & Wellbeing Month, please contact RandoxPR@randox.com.
Scottish Trade Delegation visits Randox Teoranta in Donegal
A Scottish trade delegation, led by the country’s Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee, visited several companies in the Gaeltacht area of Donegal this week, including Randox Teoranta in Dungloe, Donegal.
Randox Laboratories Ltd was established in County Antrim in 1982 to address the need for accurate and readily available diagnostic tests to improve patient diagnoses, and Randox Teoranta in Donegal was subsequently opened in 2008.
A dedicated R&D and manufacturing biohub, Randox Teoranta researches, develops and manufactures a range of unique tests on the Randox Biochip.
Exporting over 95% of its products worldwide, Randox has a global vision and staff at Randox Teoranta have the opportunity to interact with like-minded innovators across the world, including the University of Nottingham, the Royal Derby Hospital, Pacific Biomarkers in Seattle, USA, The British Psychological Society and the Medical University of Vienna, to name but a few.
On Friday 19th October the trade delegation to visit Randox Teoranta, hosted by Údarás na Gaeltachta, announced a new trade partnership agreement between Scotland and the Donegal Gaeltacht.
The trade mission was set up to prove that challenges for businesses in Scotland and Donegal can be overcome by working together.
For Scottish companies setting up in somewhere in the Gaeltacht and for companies from the Gaeltacht interested in establishing themselves in Scotland, they can access the market to test its feasibility, with the support of Údaras na Gaeltachta and Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
For more information on the Scottish Trade Delegation to Randox Teoranta please contact the Randox PR team on 028 9442 2413 or by emailing randoxpr@randox.com
Ractopamine Detection in Meat
Ractopamine was first developed as a treatment for asthma but was never approved according to Consumer Reports. Research later uncovered that when added to animal feed prior to slaughter, ractopamine could increase meat leanness or weight. However, ractopamine is currently banned or resisted in over 160 nations, including Russia and all European Union countries.
Ractopamine belongs to a class of drugs known as beta-agonists. These drugs mimic the effects of adrenaline, resulting in increased protein synthesis in muscle tissue during the administration period. When looking at the long-term effects of the therapeutic use of beta-agonists, side effects include a fast heart rate, widening of blood vessels, skeletal muscle tremor, nervousness, metabolic disturbances, high blood sugar and a lower than normal potassium in the blood. It is for this reason that in Europe all beta-agonists are banned for use in livestock and for improving athletic performance according to EU council directive 96/22/EC.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provide a “Never Fed Beta Agonists” program for companies that produce livestock and beef and pork products. Companies are to meet the requirements of the program if they are to supply pork or beef to customers that require verification of marketing claims that meat is derived from animals that are free of beta agonist residues.
With over 35 years’ experience within the diagnostics industry, Randox Food Diagnostics provide the highest quality products, customer service and technical support to ensure the needs of our global customer base are met. Our dedicated research and development team have therefore created our USDA approved ELISA kit for the detection of ractopamine residues. Offering excellent limits of detection, our accurate and reliable ractopamine test is applicable on urine and tissue sample types.
To ensure compliance with regulations, Randox Food Diagnostics also provide the Growth Promoter Multiple Matrix Array. Utilising our patented Biochip Array Technology, the Growth Promoter Multiple Matrix Array detects for several growth promoters in meat, including ractopamine.
For more information on our ractopamine ELISA or Growth Promoter Multiple Matrix Array, email info@randoxfooddiagnostics.com
The Different Sample Types Available in Drug & Alcohol Testing Programs
At Randox Testing Services we utilise discreet and non-invasive methods of drug & alcohol testing for comfort and fast sample collection. Offering a choice of a urine test, hair drug test, saliva drug test or a combination of tests, our drug testing methods ensure the possibility for short-term and long-term drug abuse profiling. With different drug testing methods having different windows of detection, we offer advice on which methods to utilise depending upon your company’s drug testing requirements, ensuring the best method or combination of methods is chosen to ensure all your testing needs are fulfilled.
Below we will provide a breakdown of each sample type and accompanying detection windows for the presence of illicit substances.
Urine – Drug & Alcohol Testing
Urine is the most common sample type for drug & alcohol testing. Simple and practical to obtain, it offers short-term drug abuse profiling. It is considered non-intrusive and sample collection is not observed.
Detection window
Drugs: 4 hours – 8 days (30 days for regular cannabis users)
Alcohol: <12 hours
Oral Fluid – Drug Testing
Oral fluid testing analyses a saliva sample for parent drugs and their metabolites. Providing analysis of short-term drug abuse, an oral fluid test is used for with-cause testing and post-incident testing, with results detectable 30-60 minutes after ingestion.
Detection window
Drugs: 24 hours – 48 hours after consumption (drug dependent)
Breath – Alcohol Testing
Breath can be tested for alcohol using handheld devices which provide immediate results. These devices are specific to alcohol and can gauge blood alcohol content (BAC) by measuring deep lung air. This type of testing can accurately determine whether a person has recently consumed alcohol or is currently over the legal or pre-determined limit.
Hair – Drug Testing
A hair drugs test offers a longer window of detection than alternative testing and provides a detailed month-on-month view of overall picture of drug use. This can highlight trends of drug use, suggest abstinence or show evidence of use depending on the length of the hair sample. Our hair testing services are tailored to meet the specific needs of our customers.
Detection window
Typically, up to 90 days using a 3cm sample (1cm of head hair = 1-month detection).
Body hair can be used to provide extended window of up to 1 year
Randox Testing Services
At Randox Testing Services we are committed to improving the safety of workplaces who may be affected by drug & alcohol consumption. We offer a wide range of quality products designed to test for illegal substances quickly and efficiently, ensuring minimal disruption in your workplace.
To find out more about sample types and how they are utilised in workplace testing programs, click this link: http://bit.ly/RTS-samp
For more information on the different drugs we currently test for, click: http://bit.ly/RTS-drugstest
If you would like to find out more about our drug & alcohol testing programs, contact us today to speak to one of our experience business development executives.
Web: www.randoxtestingservices.com
Email: testingservices@randox.com
Phone: +44 (0) 28 9445 1011
National Cholesterol Month: Protect your family from early heart disease
Have you heard of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH)?
A common disorder that is passed from parents to their children, FH is often called the ‘silent killer’ as it is characterised by dangerously high levels of cholesterol, leading to early onset cardiovascular disease.
The good news is that if diagnosed, FH can be effectively treated. The even better news this National Cholesterol Month is that a rapid and accurate diagnostic test for FH, developed by Randox Laboratories, has made diagnosis across the UK much simpler.
The prevalence of FH
Thousands of families in the UK are affected by FH, as not only is heart disease the number one killer across the globe, there is a 50:50 chance that a parent with FH will pass it onto their children. The condition can lead to higher risk of a heart attack in men before the age of 50, or before the age of 60 in women.
A common disease, at least 1 in every 500 people in the UK are living with FH, although new international research suggests that 1 in every 200 people could be affected, which would mean as many as 300,000 people in the UK. Worryingly, it is substantially underdiagnosed and less than 12% of people with FH in the UK are aware that they have this potentially life-threatening condition.
Testing for FH
The current recommended screening techniques for Familial Hypercholesterolemia are costly and time consuming, limiting the number of individuals who benefit from a timely diagnosis. Under NHS guidelines, when a person is found to have FH, their closest blood relatives should get tested too – including children before the age of 10.
The Randox FH test, developed in partnership with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, enables detection of the 40 most common genetic mutations that cause FH in the UK, with results available in just three hours, and a definitive diagnosis within one day.
With early and appropriate treatment, such as adopting a healthy lifestyle and taking cholesterol-lowering medication, risk of heart disease can be significantly reduced so that someone with FH can live as long as a person who doesn’t have the condition.
Professor John Chapman, Past- President of the European Atherosclerosis Society, which promotes study into the causes of accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, has welcomed the Randox test for suspected cases of FH:
“FH is a serious condition for those with a family history of accelerated atherosclerosis and premature cardiovascular disease. With this information, preventative measures including diet, lifestyle and lipid lowering drugs can be successfully introduced. Indeed, early identification and prevention can significantly benefit all family members potentially with this condition. In fact, we are entering an exciting time in the treatment of those with cardiovascular disease as new and highly effective drugs for lipid management are becoming available.”
The test, which is available through Randox Health Clinics, has been adopted by medical professionals within the NHS, including Dr. Colin Graham, recently retired Consultant Clinical Scientist and former Head of the Regional Genetics Lab in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, who introduced the test within his Belfast Laboratory screen for suspected cases of FH:
“The launch of this new clinically available test is a key milestone in the detection and diagnosis of FH. Current FH diagnostic tests require a large volume of samples to be batched, leading to lengthy turnaround times of two to three months. With the new test, the turnaround time is dramatically reduced, enabling more rapid patient diagnosis.”
Dr. Graham also highlighted the importance of improving detection rates through the screening of wider patient populations:
“This new test has the potential to enable FH screening to become routine in the clinical setting for improved detection and earlier identification of familial cases.”
Dr. Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories said:
“In the battle against cardiovascular disease, people with FH are on the front line. On World Heart Day it is important to raise awareness of FH as many people do not even know that they and their family members have this life-threatening condition. There is so much that can be done to support families with FH and with this readily available and much-needed test, detecting and treating entire families with FH is now possible.”
For more information please contact the Randox PR team by email: randoxpr@randox.com, or by phoning 028 9442 2413
Randox collaboration with Centre for Personalised Medicine is officially launched
A €8.6m EU funded cross-border Centre for Personalised Medicine that will improve clinical decision making and patient safety for dementia, diabetes, cardiovascular, acute kidney injury and emergency surgery has been officially launched.
Funded by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the Centre for Personalised Medicine brings together 14 academic, healthcare provider and enterprise partner organisations, including Randox Laboratories, to work together to deliver practical solutions to clinicians to ensure that patients get the right treatment at the right time.
Personalised medicine moves away from the ‘one size, fits all’ approach, using state of the art genomics testing, technology and computing and intelligence systems to deliver a more targeted approach.
Lead investigator of the Centre, Professor Tony Bjourson, Professor of Genomics at Ulster University and Director of the Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine said:
“The Centre for Personalised Medicine will bring personalised medicine approaches to five of the most prevalent disease areas to improve the care and treatment of patients in Northern Ireland, the border region of Ireland and Western Scotland. This collaboration extends partnership working to key clinicians in the health sector ensuring that we address real world issues across the five disease areas.”
Dr Kenneth Martin, Senior R&D Scientist at Randox Laboratories, explained Randox’s role in the Centre for Personalised Medicine;
“Our highly committed R&D programme here at Randox means that we have more than 490 new tests currently in development – more than any other diagnostics company – across a range of pressing health challenges, including dementia, cardio-metabolic syndrome and renal disease. These tests, developed on our patented Biochip Array Technology which can conduct multiple patient tests simultaneously, can work to identify patients who will benefit from tailored therapeutics for enhanced efficacy. The CPM project will use Randox Arrays in four of the five research clusters in the project to determine how the information they provide can benefit clinical decision making. We aim to provide clinicians with the tools they need to make more accurate and better-informed decisions for their patients. This means that countermeasures can be taken at the earliest possible opportunity, when treatment is most likely to succeed.”
Welcoming the project Gina McIntyre, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body, said:
“This project reflects one of the core objectives of the INTERREG VA Programme, to improve access to healthcare services for thousands of citizens. It has great potential as it will bring together a diverse range of cross-border partners to significantly improve clinical decision-making, and personalised treatment approaches, in the fight against five of the most common diseases.”
Match-funding for this project has been provided by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in Ireland and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland.
For more information on the Centre for Personalised Medicine please contact the Randox PR team on 028 9442 2413 or by emailing randoxpr@randox.com
