California announces ban of Chlorpyrifos Pesticide from February 2020
California announces ban of Chlorpyrifos Pesticide from February 2020
26 November 2019
Chlorpyrifos Pesticide ban in California
California announces ban of Chlorpyrifos Pesticide from February 2020
A recent Forbes article has stated that; “California plans to ban all sales of chlorpyrifos after Feb. 6, 2020, according to an agreement between the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and manufacturers. Growers must use their chlorpyrifos supplies by the end of Dec. 31, 2020, and will not be allowed to own the pesticide after this date.
The DPR cited concerns about chlorpyrifos affecting the health of children, such as causing “impaired brain and neurological development.”
Chlorpyrifos is an agricultural pesticide with a variety of uses, including the ability to kill insects that harm crops. Introduced by the Dow Chemical Company in 1965, chlorpyrifos can eliminate insects by interfering with an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase in their bodies, which breaks up the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
When an insect’s body cannot produce the enzyme, the levels of acetylcholine build up and overstimulate the nervous system until the insect dies. People also have acetylcholinesterase and acetylcholine in their bodies, so there have been ongoing concerns about the pesticide’s impact on human health.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) explained, “In people, short-term oral exposure (one day) to low (milligrams) levels of chlorpyrifos can cause dizziness, fatigue, runny nose or eyes, salivation, nausea, intestinal discomfort, sweating and changes in heart rate. Short-term oral exposure to much higher (grams) levels of chlorpyrifos may cause paralysis, seizures, loss of consciousness and death.”
In order to help the industry Randox Food Diagnostics have developed Biochip Array Technology. Biochip allows for the detection of multiple pesticides including Chlorpyrifos, from a single honey or milk sample. The platform enables the user to run up to 54 samples on the Evidence Investigator analyser with a short sample preparation, allowing the user to consolidate costs and time.
For further information please contact the Randox Food Diagnostics team by emailing info@randoxfooddiagnostics.com.
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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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Practical steps for dealing with substance misuse in the workplace
11 November 2019
Practical steps for dealing with substance misuse in the workplace
What is substance misuse?
Substance misuse (or abuse) is defined as the sustained use of any mind-altering substance. This includes legal substances like solvents and alcohol as well as illegal drugs. Through this continued use the user’s physical and mental health are severely affected. The misuse of substances in the workplace can cause issues such as increased absenteeism, low productivity and create an unsafe working environment.
It is estimated that between 3% and 5% of all work absences are due to alcohol abuse and that 1 in 30 employees has had drugs in their system at one time in the workplace. All employers have a legal responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees and so statistics like this cannot be ignored.
What can employers do?
As an employer, it is important that measures are taken to protect all employees and the company from potential dangers. To do this, employers should:
Introduce a comprehensive drug and alcohol policy. This lets all stakeholders know exactly where the company stands on substance misuse and shows that you are being proactive in your approach.
Conduct drug and alcohol testing. Utilising random and/or with cause testing can help quickly identify any substance misuse issues. Consider including a contractual obligation for employees to co-operate with this.
Train staff to identify the signs of substance misuse. Make everyone aware of the issue and give them the ability to look for the key signs. This can only help increase safety.
Keep up-to-date with the latest legislation. The laws on substance misuse can change quite quickly, especially as new substances like legal highs are identified and re-classified. Ensure you are aware of the latest changes.
Support employees. Addiction or frequent misuse of substances should be treated the same way as other health issues. Offer support to your employees and help them make a quick return to work.
The above steps can help better manage the issue of substance misuse in the workplace. Effectively communicating the company’s stance on this issue to employees brings clarity and lets everyone know where they stand.
Randox Testing Services
At Randox Testing Services we offer comprehensive drug and alcohol testing solutions for workplaces. We incorporate cutting-edge screening methods to provide an outstanding testing service and are well-positioned to provide consultancy and support to help you put an effective workplace drug and alcohol testing policy in place.
For more information contact us at testingservices@randox.com.
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Randox IT wins IT Project Team of the Year at Belfast Telegraph IT Awards
Congratulations to the Randox IT department who have been named as the ‘IT Project Team of the Year’ at the Belfast Telegraph IT Awards 2019!
The awards ceremony, which was an inaugural event from the Belfast-based media outlet, was a showcase of the finest that the Northern Ireland IT industry has to offer, with both IT agencies and in-house IT teams vying for the chance to be crowned among the best their respective fields.
Sarah Little, Publishing Director at INM(NI), said on the night that holding the event was a ‘no brainer’ due to the prolific growth of the IT sector in Northern Ireland. In 2018 1 in 9 jobs advertised were in IT.
Prior to the awards event, Randox IT had been shortlisted for both IT Project Team of the Year for their work on RIQAS Point of Care and IT Team of the Year for their work on the Randox Health client portal.
The in-house IT team at Randox comprises of web developers, engineers, customer support staff, web designers, security professionals, software development and software testers spanning ten nationalities, from Indian to Hungarian and Italian to South African.
In the last year Randox IT have worked on a variety of exciting and important projects, including the development of an innovative health portal that assesses the accuracy and reliability of point-of-care machines. These blood testing analysers are increasingly being placed in the likes of pharmacies, GP surgeries, and A&E departments to provide NHS Health Checks and manage long-term conditions.
It was for this work on RIQAS Point of Care that on Friday 8th November, at a glittering awards event in the MAC Belfast, Randox IT were officially named IT Project Team of the Year.
The cloud-based technology developed by Randox IT provides confidence in vital test results for conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Uptake of the scheme has increased considerably since it was launched this year, proving that the system is meeting a need for a quality assurance system for non-laboratory health service staff which was not being met before.
We are delighted that Randox IT have been recognised for this pioneering work in point-of-care software and hope you join us in congratulating them on such a tremendous achievement.
To find out more about Randox IT and the vacancies we have in the team, please email recruitment@randox.com
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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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We Are Randox | Céline skydives into fundraising for AWARE NI
We’re passionate about celebrating the kindness and generosity of our Randox employees. Each have their own unique and interesting story to tell and many give up their spare time to support their local community and help those in need.
Their compassion and commitment is what makes Randox the successful company it is today, and this month Customer Relationship Executive, Céline Hasson, emulated this perfectly, with an adrenaline-filled display of bravery and dedication!
On Sunday 3rd November, Céline took to the skies for a charity skydive, in aid of our 2018/2019 charity partner, AWARE NI.
Below Céline explains why she wanted to take part in the charity skydive, and what it meant to her to be able to raise funds for the main depression charity for Northern Ireland.
Céline Hasson, Customer Relationship Executive, said;
“People with mental health conditions deserve as much support and compassion as those will physical health conditions. So with this in mind, back in May I signed myself up for a skydive, with a goal to fundraise £500+ for AWARE NI.
“Unfortunately the weather was against us on a number of the occasions we had previously planned to Skydive, but we got there in the end and were able to complete the challenge in November.
“I’m sure every person reading this has either suffered or knows someone who has/is suffering from depression, so please donate to a great cause like AWARE NI. Let’s support them to help support others.”
Did you know?
– 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem each year
– Anxiety and depression are the most common mental disorders
– Overall prevalence of mental health conditions in Northern Ireland is up to 25% higher than in England
– 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems experience stigma and discrimination
What can you do?
Whilst Céline committed to a skydive with Moonjumpers Sky Diving, you have the easy part.
Simply make a donation and contribute to the very worthy AWARE NI, which has an established network of 24 support groups in rural and urban areas across the county, and also delivers mental health and well-being programmes into communities, schools, colleges, universities and workplaces.
To view Céline’s JustGiving page please visit; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/celine-hasson1
For further information about Randox’s charity work with AWARE NI in 2018/19, or our new charity partners in 2019/20, please contact the Randox PR team by emailing randoxpr@randox.com or phoning 028 9442 2413.
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