Lyme Disease – Acusera Infectious Disease (Serology) Controls
Lyme Disease – Acusera Infectious Disease (Serology) Controls
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borreliella (Borrelia) burgdorferi and is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. It’s the most common vector-borne illness in the United States and Europe [1].
People suffering from Lyme disease may react to it differently, and the symptoms can vary in severity. While Lyme disease is commonly divided into three stages — early localized, early disseminated, and late disseminated — symptoms are known to overlap.
Lyme Disease Stages & Symptoms [2]
• Stage I: Early localized disease (days to weeks) – migrating redness, generally accompanied with flu-like symptoms.
• Stage II: Early disseminated disease (weeks to months) – multiple erythema multiforme (EM) lesions, disturbances in heart rhythm, which can be caused by Lyme carditis, neurologic conditions, such as numbness, tingling, facial and cranial nerve palsies, and meningitis.
• Stage III: Late persistent disease (months to years) – arthritis of one or more large joints, brain disorders, such as encephalopathy, which can cause short-term memory loss, difficulty concentrating, mental fogginess, problems with following conversations and sleep disturbance, numbness in the arms, legs, hands, or feet.
Diagnosing Lyme Disease
Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. It has similar symptoms to other conditions and there’s not always an obvious rash [3]. Initially, the diagnosis will begin with a review of a patient’s health history, including reports of tick bites within local proximity. Serologic testing is the mainstay of diagnosis. Blood tests are usually most reliable a few weeks after the initial infection, when antibodies are present. The lack of sensitive, relatively easy, fast, direct tests for the presence of B. burgdorferi is one of the main challenges in the laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease [4]. It is important that diagnosis is made clinically using and interpreting all test results carefully with reference to the clinical presentation. Lyme Disease testing is mainly performed using serology tests with antibodies against B.burgdoferi. [5]
Preventing Lyme Disease
The most effective way to prevent Lyme disease involves decreasing your risk of experiencing a bite. Some simple precautions to help reduce the risk are:
• Covering Up – When in wooded or grassy areas, wear shoes, long pants tucked into socks, as well as a long-sleeved shirt/jacket.
• Avoid long grass – Ticks are known to be more common in areas of long grass therefore it is recommended to stick to trails when in woodlands.
• Use insect repellent – Using insect repellent should help prevent tick bites.
• Be cautious – Following time spent in woodlands or grassy areas, be sure to check yourself, children, clothing and pets for any potential ticks.
• Remove a tick immediately – If you find yourself, or anyone else, has a tick attached be sure to remove as soon as possible.
How Randox Can Help
Randox offer laboratories a human-based, liquid ready-to-use control for the analysis of this infectious disease. Designed to detect Borrelia burgdoferi (Lyme) IgG and Borrelia burgdoferi (Lyme) IgM, the Randox Acusera Lyme Disease control is suitable for use on a wide range of immunoanalysers.
Want to know more?
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References
[1] Marques, A. (2018). Revisiting the Lyme Disease Serodiagnostic Algorithm: the Momentum Gathers. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, [online] 56(8). Available at: https://jcm.asm.org/content/56/8/e00749-18 [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
[2] Healthline. (2019). Everything You Need to Know About Lyme Disease. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/lyme-disease#prevention [Accessed 18 Nov. 2019].
[3] nhs.uk. (2019). Lyme disease. [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ [Accessed 25 Nov. 2019].
[4] Marques, A. (2016). Laboratory Diagnosis of Lyme Disease – Advances and Challenges. Molecular Biotechnology, 3(1), pp.75-75.
[5] Lymediseaseaction.org.uk. (2019). Tests | Lyme Disease Action. [online] Available at: https://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/about-lyme/tests/ [Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].
Randox in Top 10 2019 European Food and Beverage Technology Providers
20 December 2019
Randox in Top 10 Food and Beverage Technology Providers in Europe 2019
Randox in Top 10 Food and Beverage Technology Providers in Europe 2019
Randox Food Diagnostics have been selected as one of the Top 10 Food and Beverage Technology solution providers in Europe for 2019.
The news was announced in an article in the Food and Beverage Technology Review magazine, which highlighted companies at the forefront of technological developments in the food and beverage industry.
The magazine’s editorial board assessed and shortlisted some of the most prominent organisations in the industry that solve challenges by implementing the current technological trends in the space, and nominated Randox in the top 10 in an article entitled; “Randox: Bringing Diagnostics to the Food Industry.”
The article highlights the history of Randox, which was established by our Managing Director Dr Peter FitzGerald in 1982. We traditionally focused on placing our diagnostics technologies in the likes of hospitals, laboratories and veterinary clinics, however in recent years have utilised our expertise in diagnostic technology to diversify into another key area of healthcare – food safety.
Our Randox Food Diagnostics division offers the latest and most comprehensive diagnostic technologies to food producers across a range of industries including meat, seafood, dairy, honey and cereals, to ensure food safety and satisfy customer demand.
Our patented Randox Biochip Array Technology can provide screening of up to 54 food samples providing results for drug residues and toxins within 3 hours, saving both time and money for clients. The Randox Biochip facilitates simultaneous detection of multiple drug residues or pathogens including antibiotic, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, growth promoter, and mycotoxin diagnostics.
“With faster, simpler and more efficient testing, Randox Biochip increases efficiency within producer processes and, within the market place, increases consumer confidence, a reason why leading food producers, as well as hospitals, laboratories, toxicology centres, and health clinics, utilise Randox products,” says Dr Peter FitzGerald.
Most recently we unveiled the Randox Infiniplex; a biochip for milk testing which allows milk testing laboratories to carry out multiple tests simultaneously on a single milk sample.
“Our Infiniplex array greatly differs from other milk residue tests as it uses multiplexing technology that reduces our customers’ testing time to four hours and requires a small sample volume (25μl),” says Kerrie McAuley, VP of Marketing, Randox Food Diagnostics.
Randox Food is also working on pesticides arrays for milk and honey, and additionally a Bovine Pathogen Array to branch out into animal health and wellbeing screening in milk for viruses such as bovine diarrhoea.
To find out more about what we offer at Randox Food Diagnostics click here or email enquiries@randoxfooddiagnostics.com.
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Metabolic Syndrome Array from Randox Biosciences
20 December 2019
Metabolic Syndrome Array from Randox Biosciences
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
According to the NHS, it occurs when a person has three or more of the following measurements1:
- Abdominal obesity (Waist circumference of greater than 40 inches in men, and greater than 35 inches in women)
- Triglyceride level of 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or greater
- HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women
- Systolic blood pressure (top number) of 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater, or diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) of 85 mm Hg or greater
- Fasting glucose of 100 mg/dL or greater
Metabolic syndrome is a serious health condition that affects about 23 percent of adults and places them at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke and diseases related to atherosclerosis in arterial walls.2 The underlying causes include obesity, physical inactivity, genetic factors and aging. 3
Randox offers 10 metabolic syndrome biomarkers over 2 panels enabling multiplex testing to be performed on Randox Biochip Technology. One patient sample is required per test enabling multiple results. Biochip Technology powers the Randox Investigator, a semi-automated benchtop immunoassay analyser.
Metabolic Syndrome Array I
- Ferritin
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
- Insulin
- Leptin
- Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
- Resistin
- Tumour Necrosis Factor α (TNFα)
Metabolic Syndrome Array II
- Adiponectin
- C-reactive Protein (CRP)
- Cystatin C
Key Benefits of the Metabolic Syndrome Array
Biochip Array Technology allows multiplex testing from one patient sample
- Applicable to fully automated and semi-automated Evidence analysers
- Biochips are ready to use, thus saving time, labour and resources
- Rapid turnaround time
- Validated for both serum and plasma samples – suitable for clinical research studies
- Small sample volume – 100μl to measure all analytes on each array
- Excellent analytical performance
- Multi-analyte controls and calibrators
- Highly efficient use of valuable patient sample banks
- No non-specific aggregation, which is associated with multi-analyte bead assays
- Can be used in the investigation of insulin resistance, pro‑thrombotic state, abnormal body fat distribution, pro‑inflammatory state and atherogenic dyslipidaemia
Randox Biochip Technology is an intelligent chemically activated 9x9mm ceramic biochip which acts as a solid phase reaction vessel. The biochip is spotted with multiple antibodies offering multiplex testing.
The good news is that if you discover that your metabolic health is sub-optimal you can improve it through a combination of diet, exercise and lifestyle adjustments from 30 minutes of moderate to intense exercise 5-7 times a week to quitting smoking and limiting your alcohol intake.
Randox can assist your metabolic research by providing innovative diagnostic technology and tests that will continue to revolutionise the healthcare landscape and assist in academic research. This technology includes our Evidence Investigator and our Metabolic Syndrome Array I and Array II which can be used to assist you in the discovery and research of Metabolic diseases.
For more information visit Randox Biosciences or email info@randoxbiosciences.com
References
1 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/metabolic-syndrome/
2http://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome/about-metabolic-syndrome
3 https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/health-wellbeing/conditions/cardiovascular/metabolic-syndrome
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Give your loved ones the Gift of Health this Christmas
02 December 2019
Randox Health Christmas Gift Cards
Give your loved ones the Gift of Health this Christmas
This year, you can give the ‘gift of health’ to someone you love, with a Randox Health Gift Card.
Randox Health has the most comprehensive health check packages in the world, as well as a wide range of specialised tests. The EveryMan, EveryWoman packages carry out 150 different health tests while the Signature package does 350. That means your results deliver a complete understanding of your health; your heart, kidneys, thyroid, fertility, bones and more.
And it doesn’t just tell you how you are now, but helps you to manage your health for the future.
Each one of our packages lasts for twelve months and include personalised health plans, a private consultation with an expert and repeat testing. This unique aspect enables you to see exactly what impact you’re making on your health as you follow our recommendations.
Specialised testing is also available on areas including cardiac health, coeliac autoimmune disease, hormonal health and genetic testing.
The health check packages are available at our clinics in London, Liverpool, Holywood and Crumlin, and also through our innovative mobile health clinic. Gift cards can be purchased from as little as £20.
To find out more and purchase the most thoughtful of Christmas presents – a gift card for the ‘gift of health’ – click here.
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Diabetes diagnosis with Randox Reagents
The prevalence of diabetes is steadily increasing across the world, with approximately 422million people worldwide with diabetes and is currently one of the leading causes of death in the world. A diabetes diagnosis comes in three forms; Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Gestational Diabetes. Each type of diabetes can have long-term, detrimental effects to your health if it is not controlled, with some of the key complications being heart disease, kidney damage, retinopathy and even limb amputations.
Diabetes can be controlled through maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, however in situations where complications occur, innovative testing can aid in the prevention and management of detrimental consequences to patients. Randox Reagents offer a range of high performance and unique tests which can be used to manage complications of diabetes such as:
Diabetic Nephropathy
Kidney disease is a life threatening complication of diabetes, commonly called diabetic nephropathy in patients with diabetes. Around 40% of people with diabetes develop diabetic nephropathy, characterised through prolonged periods of high glucose levels in the blood. To effectively monitor diabetic nephropathy, it is essential to test cystatin C levels in patients, which is a useful indicator of renal function in patients where creatinine measurements are unreliable. Unlike creatinine, cystatin C does not have a ‘blind area’ – up to 50% of renal function can be lost before significant creatinine elevation occurs. This makes cystatin C capable of detecting early stage kidney dysfunction in patients with diabetic nephropathy.
Microalbumin testing is also important to identify patients with diabetic nephropathy approximately 5-10 years earlier than proteinuria tests, helping to reduce the incidence of end stage renal disease. This is because low albumin concentrations in the urine are the earliest market of renal damage and therefore enable preventative measures to be taken.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a severe complications of uncontrolled diabetes which contains a number of conditions which occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Metabolic syndrome can be monitored through measuring Non-Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFA), which are molecules released from triglycerides by the action of the enzyme lipase and are transported in the blood bound to albumin. NEFA contributes a small proportion of the body’s fat, however they provide a large part of its energy, with elevated concentrations having adverse effects on both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
With the global burden of diabetes rising year on year, diabetes complications monitoring has never been more important. Randox Reagents offer a wide range of innovative testing to laboratories, to help clinicians accurately diagnose and monitor diabetes complications.
Download our diabetes brochures to find out about our full range of diabetes reagents
Randox reagents are available for a wide range of clinical chemistry analysers. For more information, please contact reagents@randox.com
Vivalytic Powered by Randox Biochip Technology: Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract Testing
15 November 2019
Vivalytic Powered by Randox Biochip Technology: Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract Testing
Vivalytic will revolutionise the way laboratories and healthcare professionals access molecular diagnostics. A result of a collaboration between Bosch – providing innovative strength – and Randox Laboratories – dedicated to improving global healthcare – Vivalytic is the new innovative testing platform. It’s the perfect fit for any laboratory, with numerous benefits to enhance testing capabilities.
The Vivalytic is a fully-automated, cartridge-based platform capable of both Hi-Plex and Lo-Plex testing. Vivalytic cartridges are compact, utilising micro-fluidics to enable simple and accurate diagnostic testing. Hi-Plex tests utilise Randox patented Biochip Technology, enabling end-point qualitative PCR and providing multiple test results from each sample. Lo-Plex tests are based on a variety of detection methods including real-time qualitative PCR and melting curve analysis. Nucleic acid extraction, PCR amplification followed by a suite of detection methods are combined in a truly revolutionary platform. Manual preparation, cold chain reagents and the use of multiple devices are no longer required.
Vivalytic is the perfect fit for a healthcare professional in a point of care setting to a laboratory, which can implement the Vivalytic Up – modular and expandable testing system for higher throughput.
Benefits include:
- Fully Automated Platform
- Protected System
- Direct and Clear Results
- Hygienic and Space Saving
Vivalytic Test Menu
Vivalytic offers the most comprehensive multiplex screening test for infectious diseases including respiratory, genitourinary and hospital acquired infections; simultaneously detecting both viral and bacterial infections (please see figure 1.).
| Respiratory Tract Infection Array | Sexually Transmitted Infection Array | Hospital Acquired Infections | |
| Bacterial | Viral | ||
| Bordetella Pertussis | Influenza A | Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) | Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) |
| Chlamydophila pneumoniae | Influenza B | Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) | Methicillin-sensitive
Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) |
| Haemophilus influenzae | Human adenovirus A/B/C/D/E | Neisseria gonorrhoea (NG) | Methicillin-resistant
coagulase-negative Staphylococci (MRCoNS) |
| Legionella pneumophila | Human bocavirus 1/2/3 | Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) | |
| Moraxella catarrhalis | Human coronavirus 229E/NL63 | Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) | |
| Mycoplasma pneumoniae | Human coronavirus OC43/HKU1 | Haemophilus ducreyi (HD) | |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae | Human enterovirus A/B/C | Mycoplasma hominis (MH) | |
| Bordetella parapertussis | Human Metapneumovirus | Treponema pallidum (TP) | |
| Human parainfluenza virus 1 | Herpes simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) | ||
| Human parainfluenza virus 2 | Herpes simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) | ||
| Human parainfluenza virus 3 | |||
| Human parainfluenza virus 4 | |||
| Human respiratory syncytial virus A & B | |||
| Human rhinovirus A/B/C | |||
Figure 1.
Lower and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
The economic burden of respiratory illness in the UK costs a staggering £11 billion every year on lung disease alone1. Lower respiratory tract infections (LRIs) are a substantial public health problem and a leading cause of illness and death in people of all ages2. It is estimated that LRI causes nearly 4 million deaths annually3. Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) account for an estimated 10 million outpatient appointments a year. Most of these appointments end with physicians needless writing of antibiotic prescriptions4.
Randox Biosciences offers a Respiratory Multiplex Array which rapidly detects and identifies the cause of 22 bacterial and viral pathogens helping to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. Given that only bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, rapid diagnostic tests are urgently needed to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. This test will aid clinicians in their selection of the most appropriate antibiotic treatment for patients. GPs would have additional efficiency savings for the NHS, by eliminating the need for lengthy microbiology lab tests and unnecessarily writing prescriptions.
The test is performed utilising our Biochip Technology which enables the simultaneous detection of multiple results from one patient sample. Biochip Technology powers Vivalytic which is the all-one solution for molecular diagnostics.
The main benefits of the Respiratory Multiplex Array are:
- Turnaround time of 2 hours
- Validated for sputum, lavage and nasopharyngeal samples
- Panel includes viral and bacterial species to consolidate testing
Randox Biosciences are committed to the ongoing development of diagnostic tests, through our research into numerous disease areas, to improve health worldwide.
MEDICA World Forum for Medicine International Trade Fair
Randox Biosciences team will be attending Medica from the 18th – 21st of November 2019 at Messe Dusseldorf, Germany. Stop by and say hello to some of our team members at our stand, and to learn more about our latest game-changing partnership with Bosch – the innovative Vivalytic platform!
Medica is at the forefront of new approaches in laboratory medicine, addressing the complexity of an evolving healthcare landscape. This event attracts more than 5,100 exhibitors from 70 countries, engaging diverse professionals enabling them to discover new and innovative solutions to improving patient outcomes through effective lab testing, diagnosis and treatment.
To learn more about the Vivalytic offering, visit https://www.randoxbiosciences.com/clinical-laboratory/infectious-diseases/molecular-arrays/ or email us at info@randoxbiosciences.com
References:
- British Lung Foundation. (2019). Estimating the economic burden of respiratory illness in the UK. [online] Available at https://www.blf.org.uk/policy/economic-burden [Accessed 06 Nov. 2019].
- The Lancet Infectious Diseases. (2015). Estimates of the global, regional, and national morbidity, mortality, and aetiologies of lower respiratory tract infections in 195 countries: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. [online] Available at https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(17)30396-1/fulltext [Accessed 29 Oct. 2019].
- Forum of International Respiratory Societies. The Global Impact of Respiratory Disease – Second Edition. Sheffield, European Respiratory Society, 2017.
- Thomas, M. and Bomar, P. The National Centre for Biotechnology. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection. United States of America.
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Randox products go paperless in environmental friendliness initiative
In the latest on a list of initiatives aimed at improving its environmental friendliness, Randox Laboratories has announced the removal of IFUs from its products, in a bid to go paperless.
As of 1st June 2019, all Randox Reagent, ELISA and QC kits no longer contain a copy of the product’s IFUs (Instructions For Use), to aid in reducing our carbon footprint.
Did you know, in the US, office copy paper alone still accounts for over 20% of total paper usage?
Randox is committed to reducing our environmental impact across all areas of the business, and going paperless will go a long way in contributing to the efforts the company already makes to be more environmentally-friendly.
We also have a dedicated Environmental team whose role it is to prevent pollution, reduce waste, recycle consistently, and in general, to control and reduce the risks to air, land and water.
Each year the team plants a new area of trees around Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland, where our headquarters are located, to make sure the area continues to develop and flourish, and to maintain the wildlife diversity.
And it’s not just the Environmental team who endeavour to reduce our atmosphere emissions and energy use. Whether a scientist or marketer, manufacturing operative or salesperson, each member of Team Randox makes an effort to reduce our waste where we can – for example by turning off our computers, heating and lighting when not in use, and maintaining our equipment properly in order to maximise their efficiency.
Our engineering and manufacturing team, in particular, take environmental factors into consideration daily – whether the material they have chosen is environmentally friendly, if their processes are efficient and if waste material can be recycled.
Our training department also went paperless recently. Rather than completing training documentation on paper, the team is now utilising a paperless data management system to reduce our impact on the environment even more.
And instead of IFUs being included within Randox product kits, they will all now be available for download on randox.com.
To access your Randox kit inserts please follow the steps below;
1. Under the “Support & Documentation” tab on Randox.com, you will be presented with a number of options. Under the ‘Product Inserts’ tab, you will be able to access:
-Kit inserts for Reagents (including RX series)
-Kit inserts for ELISAs
2. You will be required to login, or to create an account by clicking “Request Access.”
– Upon logging on, you will be able to select a general insert, RX series insert, ELISA insert and so on.
– Alternatively, you can search for a specific cat code using the search field on the right. You can also opt for the results to display in ascending or descending order and then simply search for the kit.
Please see below a breakdown of how to access Randox IFUs on Randox.com.
Also listed under the “Support & Documentation” tab on Randox.com are the following useful tabs:
• QC / Calibrator Documents
– IFUs and value sheets for QC material and calibrators
– No log-in required
• MSDS
– Material safety data sheets for all products
– No log-in required
Randox places great importance on looking after the environment and reducing our carbon footprint.
We are constantly trying to find more ways to reduce environmental impact, contribute to the reduction of global CO2 emissions, and make sure that the area of outstanding natural beauty in County Antrim in which we work is preserved for many generations to come.
Should you have any questions about how to access Randox Instructions For Use online, please contact applications@randox.com
For further information on what we do at Randox to protect the local environment, please contact the Randox PR Team: phone 028 9442 2413 or email randoxpr@randox.com
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Canine infection test redesigned to create less laboratory wastage
23 October 2019
New Randox Canine CRP Test
Canine infection test redesigned to create less laboratory wastage
A new smaller veterinary test kit for the diagnosis of viral and bacterial infections in dogs has been unveiled by global diagnostics company Randox Laboratories.
Suitable for the testing of a wide range of breeds, the test, which monitors levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) produced by the liver in response to inflammation, infection and tissue injury, has been redesigned in a smaller size to reduce consumable wastage.
Randox Canine CRP can diagnose conditions such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), cystitis (a bladder infection) and inflammatory bowel disease, and can also be used to establish if a dog is pregnant.
Lynsey Adams, Randox Clinical Marketing Manager, commented;
“The redesign of our Canine CRP kit size, which has reduced the volume of the CRP reagent for the diagnosis of canine infection, means that laboratories will produce less waste, and ultimately, be more cost-effective.
“The wide measuring range of this test allows for slight variations of normal ranges across different canine species and ensures accurate results for all breeds.”
Concentration levels of CRP elevate in the blood of canines much earlier post-injury or infection than other biomarkers. This rapid response following trauma (usually within 4 to 6 hours), as well as the fact that CRP levels return to normal quickly at the end of an acute episode, make Canine CRP useful for both the detection of acute inflammation episodes and the monitoring of its treatment, such as steroids or antibiotics.
Lynsey continued;
“As in humans, CRP is used as a marker of inflammatory activity, but with the Randox Canine CRP test, which uses the same high-quality materials as our human assay, CRP can also be tested in dogs to establish a range of viral and bacterial infections.
“As CRP in healthy dogs is present in low concentrations (5 mg/dl), but can elevate to 600 mg/dl, testing for this biomarker can not only detect inflammation but also provide information on its severity.”
The new test from Randox enhances an already comprehensive veterinary test menu of high performance and superior animal health assays including Bile Acids, D-3 Hydroxybutyrate (Ranbut), Glutathione Peroxidase (Ransel) and Total Antioxidant Status, for agriculture and livestock, companion animals, university and research institutes, and the sports industry.
Randox veterinary solutions also include quality control, external quality assessment (EQA) and the RX series range of clinical chemistry analysers.
Lynsey concluded;
“We have over 30 years’ experience as a supplier to the veterinary market and are proud to be able to offer veterinarians and other professionals in the animal health industry, tests which are of the highest quality, accuracy and efficiency.
“Offering the complete veterinary diagnostics package of clinical chemistry analysers, reagents, and quality control, Randox is transforming the landscape of veterinary diagnostics, by providing a time and cost effective, flexible and versatile approach to animal health testing.”
Benefits of the new Randox Canine CRP Kit
- Immunoturbidimetric method.
- New kit size – R1 2 x 18.1ml, R2 2 x 5ml offering efficiencies in cost and reagent wastage.
- Wide measuring range of 0.8 – 220mg/dl for the comfortable detection of clinically important results. CRP in healthy dogs can be found at levels below 35 mg/L, therefore Randox Canine CRP comfortably detects abnormal levels.
- In addition, a wide measuring range allows for slight variations of normal ranges across different canine species and ensures accurate results for all.
- Liquid ready-to-use reagents for convenience and ease of use.
- Calibrator included in the kit offering a cost effective canine CRP testing solution.
- Dedicated canine CRP controls available offering a complete testing package.
- Instrument specific applications available for a wide range of clinical chemistry instruments.
For further information about Randox’s New Canine CRP kit please visit https://www.randox.com/canine-crp/ or contact marketing@randox.com
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RTS | Which company testing is right for me?
04 October 2019
Which company testing method is right for me?
Implementation of an effective substance misuse policy establishes employer rights to conduct workplace drug and alcohol testing if required. In addition, it ensures adherence to the duty of care of an employer to protect their workforce and keep employees safe. There are a range of approaches available to complement your policy to ensure a safer working environment. In this blog we take a look at two common types of testing; random testing and with-cause testing.
Random Testing
With knowledge that a test could be conducted with anyone at any time, random testing is the most effective deterrent of drug abuse or alcohol misuse among employees. Ensuring the integrity of staff across all levels, random testing can be conducted with employees at any level, from temporary employees to managers and directors.
Process
The process includes ensuring a clear workplace drug and alcohol testing policy is in place. Employees should also be made aware that random drug and alcohol testing is carried out; this can take the form of a clear statement in an employee’s contract outlining that random testing can be conducted with little to no notice. Notification of this conforms to legislation whilst respecting employee rights.
Secondly, we will work with you to determine the percentage of your workforce you would like to test, and how often you would like testing to be carried out. Whilst we recommend random drug and alcohol testing should be performed at least quarterly, the decision is yours. To avoid employee discrimination and to ensure testing is random, we use our random selection technology to eliminate bias and provide accurate random selections.
Finally, we will arrive to your workplace unannounced to carry out sample collections from the random selection of employees.
Key Benefits
By implementing a random drug testing may help employers by:
- Deterring current employees from engaging in drug use
- Preventing the need for substance abuse recovery programs
- Employees are less likely to tactfully try to disguise results, or alter their habits, as they will be given little to no notice that a test is going to be conducted
- Improving attendance and employee productivity
- Providing a safer workplace with reduced accidents
With-Cause Testing
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971), if an employer suspects an employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are legally required to take appropriate action to protect the safety of the employee concerned, other members of staff and the public.
Process
The nature of with-cause testing means that testing can be required ‘on-the-spot’. At Randox Testing Services, we offer a 24-hour call-out service which guarantees an experienced collection officer will arrive to your company within a maximum of 2 hours to perform a sample collection. This service is available 24/7, 365 days a year and complies fully with chain of custody procedures.
Benefits
- Legal compliance with correct measurements being taken if an employee is suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Can deter employee misuse of drugs or alcohol due to a workplace testing policy being in place
- Cost savings because of increased productivity with issues being discovered and rectified early
How Randox Testing Services can help
At Randox Testing Services we possess a wealth of experience and knowledge that enables us to offer holistic packages to meet the needs of the customer, regardless of their location or industry. This knowledge comes from over 35 years of testing experience in the diagnostics industry and through our involvement with bodies that help shape testing legislation.
For more information about our range of drug & alcohol testing products, our expertise in this industry and our array of support services, visit www.randoxtestingservices.com.
If you would like to speak with one of our experts, use any of the following methods:
Email: testingservices@randox.com
Phone: +44 (0) 28 9445 1011
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Metabolic Syndrome Arrays from Randox Biosciences
17 September 2019
Metabolic Syndrome Arrays from Randox Biosciences
Metabolic syndrome is described as a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. As result of three health conditions going on, it puts the individual at greater risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke and many other risks. 1 As well as developing additional health conditions it can cause damage to the blood vessels, the blood pressure damages the blood vessels, the obesity causes a lot of strain on the blood vessels and the heart.2 Therefore, can result in serious long-term risks.
This serious health condition is very common, and studies state that it affects about 23% of adults. 3One in four adults in the UK are currently living with metabolic syndrome and often becomes more common with age2.
Usually it affects those who are overweight or considered obese, have an unbalanced diet containing high levels of sugar and fat and have high cholesterol and extremely high blood pressure2 therefore, the condition can be prevented by reducing the risks.
1 According to the NHS, metabolic syndrome occurs when a person has three or more of the following measurements:
-Abdominal obesity (Waist circumference of greater than 40 inches in men, and greater than 35 inches in women)
-Triglyceride level of 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) or greater
– HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL in men or less than 50 mg/dL in women
– Systolic blood pressure (top number) of 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater, or diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) of 85 mm Hg or greater
There are many ways to prevent metabolic syndrome from developing, making lifestyle changes for example, ensuring their weight is healthy by increasing physical exercise, eating a well-balanced healthy diet containing whole grains, fruit, vegetables and fish and finally, visiting the GP to monitor and manage blood glucose, blood cholesterol and blood pressure, quit smoking and managing your stress.
Randox offers the Evidence Evolution including two Metabolic Syndrome Arrays which allows multiplex testing from a single sample allowing rapid turnaround time and are suitable for both serum and plasma samples.
Metabolic Syndrome Array I
- Ferritin
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
- Insulin
- Leptin
- Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
- Resistin
Metabolic Syndrome Array II
- Adiponectin
- C-reactive Protein (CRP)
- Cystatin C
For more information on our Evidence Series or Metabolic Syndrome Range of Assays, contact us at EvidenceSeries@randox.com
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/metabolic-syndrome/
- https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/health-wellbeing/conditions/cardiovascular/metabolic-syndrome
- http://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/metabolic-syndrome/about-metabolic-syndrome
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