Randox Covid-19 Testing: Evaluating the health, social and economic impacts
3rd April 2023: COVID-19 Report Reveals How Randox’s 25 Million PCR Tests Averted Thousands of Hospitalisations and Deaths And Delivered Billions of Pounds Of Economic Benefits
A new report on the work of leading diagnostics company Randox shows that its COVID-19 PCR testing in the public and private sectors averted more than 3,000 UK deaths and 14,100 additional hospitalisations during the pandemic emergency.
That assessment is contained in an evidence-based report into the performance and delivery of Randox during the crisis, compiled by internationally respected economic development consultants OCO Global.
As well as illustrating the impact of PCR testing on deaths and hospitalisations, the report provides an assessment of the wider economic benefit of the test and trace programme.
It reveals that Randox testing delivered £8.3 billion of benefits to the UK economy, by reducing transmission and expediting the return to work for key workers, as well as facilitating social engagement and international travel, crucial to economic recovery.
The report is believed to be one of the most comprehensive analyses of any company awarded government Covid-19 contracts. It will also be provided to the COVID-19 Public Inquiry to assist their considerations regarding future evidence that may be required.
In total, the OCO Global report confirms that Randox processed over 17 million PCR tests as part of the government’s national testing programme between March 2020 and June 2022. The company also provided a further 7.7 million PCR tests plus around 1.8 million lateral flow tests to corporate clients and international travelers.
The report estimates that Randox’s private testing facilitated 4.4 million international return journeys, many of them crucial to support the economy in a time of medical and financial emergency. Other tests supported the nation’s social fabric, enabling people to travel for leisure purposes and to meet families.
The evidence highlights the Northern Ireland-based company’s 40 years experience as one of the world’s leading diagnostic testing companies. This experience, says the OCO report, coupled with the company’s ability and willingness as a private business to innovate and invest its own resources in rapidly upscaling to meet the crisis enabled it successfully to deliver testing on a vast scale. The report also says that innovation in software, automation and robotics, in particular, helped ensure that Randox optimised laboratory efficiency and drove down costs to the benefit of contracting parties.
The report sets out the high level of financial risk taken by Randox during the pandemic and their rapid expansion of laboratories, staff levels and capacity to meet the emergency demand for testing.
In just ten months, Randox increased its capacity to process PCR tests – from 300 tests per day on March 30th 2020, to 120,000 per day by January 2021.
This involved building, equipping and staffing 80,000 square feet of PCR testing laboratory space at the Randox Science Park in County Antrim – the equivalent of a football pitch of new laboratory space.
Overall, the report confirms these improvements and development enabled Randox to deliver 12 per cent of the UK’s PCR testing – and a considerably higher percentage at times when Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths rocketed to their highest levels. It also notes that the Randox rate of void samples was 15 per cent below the average for the testing programme as a whole.
The report adds: “These improvements would be passed on to the UK Treasury as Randox was able to drive down the cost of testing from £49.60 to £18.00.
“Private individuals also benefited from Randox process improvement as the company was at the forefront of driving down the price of private testing. By October 2021 the cost of a PCR test (click and collect) would be £34.99, a 70 percent decrease from December 2020.” This price included the sample collection kits and all logistics and services, not within the government contracts.
In assessing Randox’s performance the report goes on to say: “Randox is a privately owned company that can make decisions quickly and this proved invaluable in the frenetic early stages of the pandemic when companies and governments across the world were scrambling for supplies and consumables.
“Randox’s willingness to invest came with significant risk: through the majority of the National Testing Programme, Randox were only paid for tests completed and there were no guarantees that payment for the number of tests indicatively contracted for would be received.
“This placed considerable risk with Randox who were having to purchase vast quantities of consumables, despite the uncertainty around how long the pandemic would last or how government policy might change.
“It was this successful risk management which enabled Randox to be one of the best performing laboratories across the National Testing Programme.”
Gareth Hagan, CEO of OCO Global said:
“OCO Global was commissioned by Randox to compile a full, open and comprehensive report into the value of the company’s work, performance and delivery of PCR testing during the pandemic. Randox was a cooperative partner, providing access both to data and to personnel from across the organisation.
“We were able to use external interviews and data sources to corroborate our research. We are satisfied that the facts and the evidence-based findings of our report accurately reflect the work of Randox during the Covid-19 emergency.”
A spokesman for Randox said:
“We believe this report delivers clear evidence of the performance, outcomes and value of the work which Randox is proud to have carried out during one of the greatest peacetime emergencies to have hit the world and the UK.
Editors Notes
Gareth Hagan is interview for media interview
OCO Global is a leading specialist provider of trade and investment services. Headquartered in Northern Ireland, OCO Global has offices in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Japan, UAE, China and the U.S.
OCO Global’s clients include leading national, state and regional economic development organizations such as The Department For International Trade (DIT), Enterprise Florida and The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), as well as private companies seeking to enter new markets or grow their domestic base, including EY, PWC, Siemens, Smiley Monroe, Pepsico and Santander.
Media Enquiries to Ian Monk /Heather Vernon
Ian.monk@woburnpartners.com +44 7970 026072
Heather.vernon@woburnpartners.com +44 7747 097821
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Open Day at Randox Teoranta!
We are hosting an open day at Randox Teoranta!
We are delighted to invite you to our careers open day at Randox Teoranta, which will take place on Saturday 8th April from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
This is a fantastic opportunity to discover more about our innovative medical diagnostic technologies and products, as well as to learn about the exciting career opportunities available within our state-of-the-art facility located in Dungloe, Co. Donegal, F94 TV06.
We are Recruiting for these exciting opportunities:
– Engineering Roles
– Scientific Roles
– Manufacturing Roles
– Admin/Support Roles
Come in and see the facility and discuss job opportunities directly with staff. Tea, coffee and traybakes will be available in the morning as well as the chance to win our Easter basket!
Why work at Randox Teoranta?
At Randox Teoranta, we take great pride in fostering a strong company culture that emphasises teamwork, collaboration, and support. We believe that our success is due in large part to the dedicated and motivated individuals who make up our team. Our employees aren’t just colleagues, they’re part of our family. We encourage open communication, provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, and celebrate the achievements of our team members.
Company Culture
Learning Opportunities
At Randox, we offer extensive opportunities for learning and development in various fields such as business, science, design, technology, and engineering. Our fast-paced and forward-thinking work culture values fresh and innovative ideas that can ultimately transform healthcare and save lives.
Whether you’re a full-time employee or a student, Randox Laboratories is a great place to grow and advance in your career. Our highly active placement programs for 1st and 2nd year students in every sector provide 50+ positions each year!
Diagnosing UTI Complications in Mothers and Newborns
Diagnosing UTI Complications in Mothers and Newborns
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections that occur in humans. Over 50% of women become infected with a UTI at least once in their lives, with up to 10% of women suffering from yearly infections5. Recurrence rates are high in UTIs, almost 50% of women who contract a UTI experience reinfection or relapse within one year of the initial infection5. Men are four times less likely to contract a UTI due to a longer urethra seen in men when compared with women.
Infections occur in the urinary organs and structures which can be categorized by the site of infection: cystitis (bladder), pyelonephritis (kidney) and bacteriuria (urine)5. So-called, uncomplicated UTIs are sited only in the bladder, however, UTIs are highly likely to cause secondary infections, commonly in the kidneys. Pyelonephritis has been shown to result in renal scarring and in some cases, subsequent renal failure2. There are various species of bacteria responsible for UTIs, which have different mechanisms of infection and virulence. However, most species have surface adhesins which function like hooks, attaching the bacteria to the urothelial mucosal surface, and colonizing the bladder. From here, the bacteria can ascend the ureters, reaching the kidney and causing secondary infections2.
Under normal conditions, the innate immune system actions an inflammatory response to the infection site. However, some species of bacteria that cause UTI can inhibit or delay the immune response resulting in secondary infections in the ureters and kidneys where the risk of severe renal defects is considerable, and the bacteria have direct access to the bloodstream2.
Common symptoms of UTI include:
- Frequent urination
- Painful urination
- Incomplete voiding of the bladder
- Pelvic, back, and/or abdominal pain
- Haematuria
- Lethargy
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fever
Antibiotic therapies are effective and aim to facilitate the immune response and inhibit the spread of the infection to the kidneys and upper urinary tract. Although these treatments are usually effective, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global crisis encompassing all medical disciplines3. This resistance to antibiotics can occur through several mechanisms such as dysregulation of protein expression, structural modifications, and mutations to name a few11.
Bacteria are capable of some level of intrinsic resistance, or insensitivity, to antibiotics through the production of various enzymes designed to degrade the drug or inhibit its mechanism11. Mutations found in the genome of bacterial species are often responsible for the resistance they display. These mutations commonly alter the bacterial binding sites used by antibiotics, therefore inhibiting their action. Some bacteria produce enzymes, which alter the chemical structure of the antibiotic, again, inhibiting them from binding to the antibiotic. Other examples include horizontal gene transfer and biofilm formation10.
One study reported in 2019, that AMR was the twelfth leading cause of death when compared with a susceptible infection counterfactual9. The same study went on to show that AMR had the highest mortality rate in low to middle-income countries providing evidence that AMR is an even bigger problem in the most impoverished parts of the world. New techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9 and antibiotic re-sensitization methods are at the forefront of the fight against AMR, however, the scale of the problem warrants taking all possible action to elevate the risk posed by AMR8.
UTI During Pregnancy
UTIs are a common occurrence in pregnancy with one hospital reporting over 15% of pregnant women being diagnosed with some form of UTI4. Diagnosis can usually be confirmed by a bacterial growth of over 105 counts/ml in urine4, 12, 13. Many hormonal and anatomical changes occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy that create favorable conditions for UTI. Firstly, the glomerular filtration rate is altered, causing an increase in glucose concentration and pH of the urine3. The urethral dilation, smooth muscle relaxation, enlarged mechanical compression of the uterus, and increased plasma volume result in lower urinary concentration and increased bladder size leading to urinary tract reflux and urine stagnation. These conditions are favorable for the proliferation of bacterial infections1.
Diagnosis of UTIs in pregnant women can be complicated. For example, the increased frequency of urination experienced could also be caused by additional pressure placed on the woman’s bladder by the baby, or the abdominal pain indicative of a UTI could be interpreted as Braxton Hicks contractions and vice versa3. There are several established risk factors associated with UTI in pregnancy including advanced maternal age, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, history of UTI, urinary tract abnormalities, and various immunodeficiencies3. Other reports claim that UTI in pregnancy is more common in women with hypothyroidism and women who are carrying their first child4.
Bacterial Species Responsible for UTI
There are a multitude of bacterial species responsible for UTIs, the most common is Escherichia coli (E. coli), followed by group B streptococcus (GBS), enterococcus, and Klebsiella pneumonia. Escherichia coli infections are categorized as either enteric or extraintestinal (ExPEC). Of the latter, there are two main culprits: neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC) and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC)2. These infections can exist in the gut and spread, colonizing other parts of the host such as the blood or central nervous system, causing other potentially severe infections. Of these strains, UPEC is responsible for around 80% of both symptomatic and asymptomatic UTIs. UPEC strains have been associated with acute renal damage and are thought to encourage bacterial growth and persistence by inhibiting or delaying the innate immune response2.
Maternal and Perinatal UTI Complications
UTI complications in mothers and children have long been debated. However, there is sufficient evidence to support several prognostic claims. Preterm delivery is a major complication associated with UTI and has been well studied. Preterm neonates face a high risk of fatality with up to 1 million babies dying every year due to premature labor6. Those that survive are at risk of developing one or more of the following health defects1:
- Lung problems
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Hearing loss
- Visual impairment
- Learning disabilities
- Behavioral problems
- Cerebral palsy
The risk of preterm birth in women who suffered from a single UTI was increased when compared to women who had no infection during their pregnancy but recurrent UTIs did not increase the risk3. Risk of low birth weight has been shown to increase by 50% in women who suffered symptomatic UTIs compared to those who remained uninfected throughout their pregnancy; this risk can be mitigated through antibiotic therapy. The same treatments did not show any significant ameliorative effects on preterm birth4. Women who contract a UTI during pregnancy are also at a higher risk of various conditions such as preeclampsia, postpartum endometritis, sepsis1, hypertensive disorders, anemia and amnionitis4.
Asymptomatic UTIs, also known as asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB), are not known to cause as drastic primary effects on pregnancy as seen with symptomatic infections. Despite this, ASB can spread and colonize in the kidneys. At this point, pyelonephritis is likely to occur, increasing the risk of severe renal scarring4 and advanced risk of preterm birth3. In these cases, it is common to treat the patient with antibiotics to reduce the risk of a secondary, symptomatic infection. While these treatments are effective at limiting the progression of the infection, overuse of antibiotics is a primary factor contributing to antimicrobial resistance4.
Screening and Treating UTI Complications
Women who are not pregnant and show no risk factors can be tested for UTI through a simple urine dipstick. The presence of leukocyte and absence of nitrite can be considered a positive UTI diagnosis. However, where complications are likely, a urine culture is required. Cultures can be carried out on blood or MacConkey agar and require preservation of the sample in boric acid, or in a refrigerator, for 24 hours prior to testing. This culture can then be isolated and used to identify the strain of bacteria causing the infection7.
Species identification is imperative in maternal UTIs. Different species have different levels of sensitivity to the various antibiotics available. E. coli, for example, shows 93% sensitivity to Nitrofurantoin but is only 86% sensitive to Fosfomycin. Selection of the correct treatment can ameliorate symptoms rapidly and reduce the possible complications for both mother and baby4. Many species of bacteria known to be responsible for UTIs have displayed resistance to antibiotics. Group B streptococcus has been shown to be 42% resistant to clindamycin4. The selection of antibiotics available to clinicians treating maternal UTI are already limited as many antibiotics have been associated with increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects independent of UTI1.
With the patient in mind, Randox provides clinicians with both laboratory and near patient testing solutions. Bringing to the market, to help eliminate distress and improve testing turnaround times, the Randox Urinary Tract Infection Array. It has the ability to detect 30 bacterial, fungal, and associated antibiotic resistance markers from a single urine sample in under four hours. This multiplex diagnostic tool can help detect specific bacterial and fungal strains known to cause UTI allowing laboratories to confidently diagnose patients in a timely manner, aiding with targeted treatments and helping to reduce risk of complications.
The Ongoing UTI Battle
Maternal UTI is a very common problem resulting in many fatalities and morbidities worldwide. It is crucial to identify and characterize these infections to limit the negative effects seen to both mothers and their children. Quick and efficient screening is paramount in the battle against bacteria to allow the prescription of targeted treatment. While antibiotics are often an effective weapon against UTIs, care should be taken when prescribing these treatments to pregnant women due to the potential adverse effects that have been reported. Furthermore, unnecessary treatments using antibiotics should be avoided at all costs due to the increasingly serious issue of antimicrobial resistance.
References
1.Eslami V, Belin S, Sany T, Ghavami V, Peyman N. The relationship of health literacy with preventative behaviours of urinary tract infection in pregnant women. Journal of Health Literacy. 2022;6(4):22-31. doi:https://doi.org/10.22038/jhl.2021.59768.1183
2.Bien J, Sokolova O, Bozko P. Role of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Virulence Factors in Development of Urinary Tract Infection and Kidney Damage. International Journal of Nephrology. Published online 2012:1-15. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/681473
3.Werter DE, Kazemier BM, van Leeuwen E, et al. Diagnostic work-up of urinary tract infections in pregnancy: study protocol of a prospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2022;12(9):e063813. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063813
4.Balachandran L, Jacob L, Al Awadhi R, et al. Urinary Tract Infection in Pregnancy and Its Effects on Maternal and Perinatal Outcome: A Retrospective Study. Cureus. 2022;14(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.21500
5.Bono MJ, Reygaert WC. Urinary Tract Infection. Nih.gov. Published 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470195/
6.World Health Organization. Preterm birth. Who.int. Published February 19, 2018. Accessed February 8, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth
7.Sinawe H, Casadesus D. Urine Culture. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557569/
8.Schrader SM, Botella H, Vaubourgeix J. Reframing antimicrobial resistance as a continuous spectrum of manifestations. Current Opinion in Microbiology. 2023;72:102259. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2022.102259
9.Murray CJ, Ikuta KS, Sharara F, et al. Global Burden of Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in 2019: A Systematic Analysis. The Lancet. 2022;399(10325):629-655. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02724-0
10.Ali J, Rafiq QA, Ratcliffe E. Antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and potential synthetic treatments. Future Science OA. 2018;4(4):FSO290. doi:https://doi.org/10.4155/fsoa-2017-0109
11.Nelson DW, Moore JE, Rao JR. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR): significance to food quality and safety. Food Quality and Safety. 2019;3(1):15-22. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/fqsafe/fyz003
12.Myers AL. Curbside Consultation in Pediatric Infectious Disease : 49 Clinical Questions. Slack; 2012:4.
13.Oie S, Kamiya A, Hironaga K, Koshiro A. Microbial contamination of enteral feeding solution and its prevention. American Journal of Infection Control. 1993;21(1):34-38. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/0196-6553(93)90205-i
7. Sinawe H, Casadesus D. Urine Culture. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557569/
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Worldlab∙Euromedlab 2023
We will be exhibiting at Worldlab∙Euromedlab 2023!
We invite you to stop by RCC La Nuvola in Rome between May 21st and May 25th, 2023 for a visit.
Make sure to drop by Booth #153, where we’ll be engaging in conversations about cutting-edge diagnostic products and solutions, while also showcasing our groundbreaking technologies.
With over four decades of experience in the medical diagnostics industry, Randox is dedicated to enhancing global health outcomes. As a provider of high-quality diagnostic solutions, Randox offers a wide range of products and services, including Quality Control, Molecular Diagnostics, Third Party Reagents, Point of Care, and Clinical Chemistry Analysers.
Meet The Team
If you plan to attend Worldlab∙Euromedlab 23, our Product Specialists Team will be available at Booth #153 to answer any questions you may have. To ensure the most productive use of your time, we recommend scheduling a meeting with one of our Randox representatives in advance to discuss your specific needs and book a time slot during the five-day event by clicking on the button below:
Welcome to Vivasuite!
Running within the Bosch IoT cloud maintaining the highest standard of IT security and data privacy. Connectivity ensures that devices are always available and fully updated.
Advantages of Vivasuite:
– Schedule remote software updates
– Know when your devices were last synchronised
– View all devices in one dashboard
– View device information and general device data
– View testing history from one system
– Mobile device monitoring
– Vivalytic user management
– Save time with less “on-device” work
Vivalytic Overview
Discover more about the Vivalytic
Vivalytic Resource Hub
What We Do: Cutting-Edge Healthcare Diagnostics
About Randox
You may already be familiar with Randox! Not only do we sponsor the world’s greatest race, the Randox Grand National, we also have a range of sporting partnerships including Team GB, Olimpia Milano basketball team and more. Or perhaps you recognise the name as being one of the partners in the UK Government’s testing programme for COVID-19.
Disruptive Innovation in Diagnostics and Healthcare
Randox is dedicated to improving healthcare using innovative diagnostic technologies, for a range of health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and stroke.
Whilst the science is complex, the applications are not. Diagnostic testing takes place every day behind the scenes of GP surgeries, laboratories and hospitals.
Around 70% of all medical decisions are based on laboratory results, and so, not surprisingly, we believe that earlier, more accurate and more accessible diagnostics are the key to improving global health and saving lives.
The Future of Healthcare
We are significantly increasing our UK High Street presence, using the unique national coronavirus testing infrastructure and capacity we invested in during the pandemic to deliver a new range of preventative health checks. Expansion plans will see up to 20 new Randox Health clinics operating in the UK and Northern Ireland by the end of the year. The clinics will provide easy access for millions to a range of diagnostic tests for vitamin deficiencies, hormone imbalances, inherited/genetic conditions and key health concerns including heart, liver and kidney conditions.
Key to the unique range of diagnostic testing available at our growing network of clinics is the testing technologies, facilities and comprehensive, nationwide distribution network rapidly developed by Randox Laboratories to play a key role in meeting the sudden national demand for Covid-19 PCR tests. At the height of the pandemic emergency, Randox were the only laboratory in the UK and Northern Ireland to process over 100,000 PCR tests per day, saving thousands of lives.
Now, with millions of people having become accustomed to regular testing through the pandemic, Randox is combining that familiarity with its own unique Covid-19 experience and infrastructure to deliver real, affordable and preventative healthcare through early diagnostic testing on the High Street.
“Randox believes that in harnessing the achievements of during the pandemic we can help the shift away from the traditional model of sickness management to a new era of truly preventative healthcare. This will benefit individuals and society by improving patient outcomes and considerably reducing the burden on our vital and hard-pressed clinical services” (Randox founder and Managing Director – Dr Peter FitzGerald).
Frequently Asked Questions?
What is the vision of Randox?
The Randox ethos of improving healthcare, which drove our Managing Director Dr Peter FitzGerald to start the company in the 1980s, continues today. Up to 25% of our turnover is reinvested in research and development to enable our scientists to work on the development of pioneering tests for a range of common illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
We have also spent more than £220 million developing our patented Randox Biochip. This state-of-the-art biochip technology has revolutionised the diagnostics industry because it allows multiple tests to be carried out from a single, undivided patient sample on a single testing platform.
When and why was Randox established?
Our Managing Director Dr FitzGerald established Randox in 1982 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, to address the need for accurate and readily available diagnostic tests to improve patient diagnosis. At that time, doctors only conducted a handful of tests per patient, but now, more than 40 years later, Randox has developed and improved hundreds of tests, with hundreds more in development.
What products and service do Randox offer?
Randox has a broad range of products and services that offer a comprehensive insight into patient diagnosis to facilitate more effective disease management and treatment.
Our clinical product offering includes diagnostic reagents, quality control, and clinical chemistry analysers.
Our patented Randox Biochip Technology and associated Immunoassay analysers also have applications for forensic toxicology, food diagnostics, and workplace drug testing.
Our Randox Health clinics offer a range of health checks across general health, sexual health, respiratory health and more.
Who and where are Randox customers?
Randox’s focus has traditionally been on healthcare providers, so we have placed our products and services in hospitals, clinics, research and molecular laboratories, food testing, forensic toxicology, life sciences and veterinary laboratories.
With the establishment of our consumer brand, Randox Health, we also offer our innovative tests directly to the consumer in our Randox Health clinics, located across the UK including London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Holywood and Crumlin.
We have ambitious plans to roll out a number of new clinics across the United Kingdom and internationally, over the coming months and years.
What is the size of the company?
Our company has grown from a small team of two scientists, to over 3300 employees of 44 nationalities, including 650 research scientists and engineers.
Where are Randox headquartered and what is the geographical reach?
Our headquarters are in Crumlin, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland – close to Belfast International Airport. However, we are a global company and currently have offices and distribution outlets in 145 countries, with manufacturing and R&D capabilities in 4 jurisdictions across 3 continents.
We are currently relocating our headquarters to the Randox Science Park in Antrim; a £161 million project which will accelerate the development of new products into a wide range of clinical needs, including various cancers, stroke, heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders.
We are very proud of our global penetration – today, approximately 5% of the world’s population receives medical diagnoses using products from Randox. That equates to about 400 million people. We also supply 15% of the world’s cholesterol tests, so if you’ve ever had your cholesterol checked, then there’s a high chance it could have been performed using a Randox product!
What are the biggest issues within the health sector?
Our key observation across the globe is that within healthcare the pressure on resources means there is a focus on the “management of sickness,” rather than preventative care.
We know that a focus on early diagnosis and preventative care will improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. Making that paradigm shift is a major challenge.
That’s why Randox Health was established – to allow the consumer direct access to our innovative technologies so that they can take control of their health and make appropriate lifestyle changes BEFORE disease manifests and symptoms occur.
What is Randox doing in the fight against COVID-19?
To find out more about our test and testing services for COVID-19, visit our COVID-19 FAQ page by clicking here.
Want to know more?
Contact us or visit our dedication to quality webpage.
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Randox Supports Family Business Week 21st-25th November 2022
Randox Supports Family Business Week 21st-25th November 2022
The theme for Family Business Week 2022 is ‘Celebrating Our Place in the World’. It will highlight the central role family firms play in shaping and supporting their local communities, economy and natural environment. The campaign is led by the IFB, the voice of the UK’s family business sector and supported by NatWest.
In honour of this week, Randox would like to share our family business history:
In April 1982, Randox Laboratories was founded by Dr Peter Fitzgerald from a converted chicken house off Randox Road, near Crumlin in Antrim, where he had grown up.
FitzGerald started out using equipment discarded by university research labs but, through decades of hard work and innovation, slowly built the company into a market leader. Randox Laboratories is now the largest diagnostics company from the UK with over 40 years of experience operating in over 145 countries.
The Covid-19 pandemic saw Randox Laboratories on the front line for testing for the Covid-19 virus across the UK and Ireland. After downloading the virus genetic sequence in January 2020, Randox were able to quickly develop a test. This meant that by March 2020, Randox were provided with a contract by Public Health England to test as part of the National Testing Program.
After investing in 78,000 sq ft of laboratory testing space and hiring additional staff, Randox were able to process over 25million PCR tests as part of the National Testing Program as well as private testing allowing a return to work and travel.
Expanding into the travel market and providing an essential service to people to travel to see loved ones after years in isolation. There was a realisation that the future landscape for healthcare has changed forever. People have become used to testing themselves. People want to know the status of their health and are actively taking control of their health and wellbeing.
Randox Health has recently made significant investment to deliver our preventative, personalised testing packages across the nation and are opening up to 25 Randox Health clinics in the short term – In England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Randox Health clinics focus on the provision of cost-effective, timely and accurate testing to identify risk to health, improve clinical diagnoses and promote preventative healthcare. Our aim is to improve and save lives through early detection of disease.
The growing network of clinics provide easy access for millions of people to a new Randox range of diagnostic tests, including for cancer, vitamin deficiencies, hormone imbalances, allergies and key health concerns including heart, liver, and kidney conditions. Real time insights on current and future health risks are provided to empower clients to make simple dietary and lifestyle changes giving them the power to extend their lives.
Randox clinics also offer a new range of comprehensive diagnostic programmes, including the ‘EveryMan’ and ‘EveryWoman’ 12-month programmes/full body ‘MOTs’. These enable up to 150 data points linked to key health areas to be measured during each visit with a personalised health plan summarising results provided. Repeat tests and consultation will be arranged six months after the initial test, included in the testing programme prices, which start at £295 per person.
Randox Win IT Team or Department of the Year at the 2022 Belfast Telegraph IT Awards
Randox would like to congratulate the IT Department on their Belfast Telegraph IT Awards Win!
The Randox IT department were delighted to win the IT Team or Department of the Year award sponsored by Continu. Described as the ‘clear winner’ by Belfast Telegraph, Randox IT won the award due to their hard work and dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The awards took place on Friday at the MAC Theatre in Belfast and was hosted by comedian Neil Delamere. Northern Ireland’s incredible IT industry was showcased displaying their great achievements and their significant, positive impact on the local economy.
In the past 12 months, Randox IT department transformed the cutting-edge systems and facilities created during the pandemic to allow customers to take control of their health through preventative testing. Randox IT were very much at the forefront of innovation and continued to develop and enhance our offerings, processing 27 million covid results in total. Furthermore, expanding into the travel market and providing an essential service to people who could finally travel to see loved ones after years in isolation.
The team’s disruptive approach to development has allowed Randox to respond quickly in an ever-evolving situation and introduce a full end-to-end testing process facilitating multiple key stages such as, logistics, registration, accessioning, sample processing and results reporting.
At the beginning of 2022, there was a realization that the future landscape for healthcare has changed forever. People want to know the status of their health and are actively taking control of their health and wellbeing. Through these innovate solutions developed by Randox IT in the fight against covid, the team have focused on the future vision of healthcare and developed solutions for customers to test themselves, in clinic or at home, for areas such as heart health, Thyroid health, STI, Vit and Minerals as well as our most popular packages of Everyman, Everywomen, Signature, Every Athlete.
This has only been possible due to the dedication and expertise of the IT team who released a new version of the Randox Health customer platform, which provides each customer with a customized view of their health. Customers have key insights to their health data allowing them to track their health.
Rapid MG, MH, UP/UU Testing Now Available on Vivalytic
Introducing MG, MH, UP/UU Testing to Vivalytic
Aiding the rapid diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and immediate decision making at the point of care, the Vivalytic portfolio of tests has now expanded to complement current comprehensive screening for STI’s, introducing rapid screening for Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Mycoplasma hominis (MH) & Ureaplasma parvum (UP)/urealyticum (UU) in 1 hour.
What are MG, MH, UP/UU pathogens?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 30 different bacterial species, viruses and parasites have been identified to be involved in the spread of STIs. Mycoplasmas in particular belong to the group of human pathogenic bacterial species with many risk associations particularly on the female reproductive system.1 Studies have also found that UU and MH are implicated in prematurity-linked conditions 2. UP & UU bacterium again are implicated to have adverse implications for both men & women. They affect up to 70% of sexually active couples and exist mostly in an asymptomatic state. If left untreated, UP & UU may be associated with infertility and other risk associations such as meningitis and pneumonia. 3
Why test MG, MH, UP/UU on Vivalytic?
Current diagnostic cultivation methods for screening can take up to three days for MH, UP and UU or even 6 months, with the introduction of these STI pathogens to the Vivalytic, quick, accurate diagnosis and immediate treatment decisions can be made at the point of care , before symptoms worsen, or any long-term implications occurs to the patient. In a world where over 1 million STIs are acquired daily 5, a quick and efficient process that allows for almost immediate results can improve operations considerably.
The push to encourage individuals to test themselves regularly before engaging in sexual activities with a new partner is becoming more and more widespread. The Vivalytic, as a portable point of care device, designed to suit a range of environments such as Doctors’ offices or GUM/ Sexual Health Clinic, can provide a screening immediately, minimising the stress and uncertainty a patient may experience whilst waiting for a result to receive the relevant treatments if needed. The Vivalytic’s speed not only provides reliable and precise diagnoses, but also plays a role in fighting the spread of STIs and minimising hospitalisations that may arise from complications from undetected sexually transmitted pathogens.
Features and Benefits
- By using a single cartridge, the Vivalytic MG, MH, UP/UU test detects and differentiates between pathogens of the Mycoplasmataceae family
- Detection Method: Real-Time PCR
- Result Time: 1 hour
- Sample Volume: 300μl Clinical Sample
- Sample Type: Swab (Urethral, Vaginal, Cervical, Rectal), Urine
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What makes this possible?
Making this happen, The MG, MH, UP/UU rapid test on Vivalytic by Bosch, a point of care platform brought to the market by Randox Laboratories. The Vivalytic system is a fully automated, cartridge-based platform capable of both Hi-Plex and Lo-Plex infectious disease testing. Each easy-to-use cartridge contains all necessary reagents, is fully sealed to minimise risk and can be conveniently stored at room temperature.
Making a point to care, the Vivalytic also provides a comprehensive sexual health profile of 10 bacterial, viral, and protozoan infections with a rapid turnaround time of just 2 hours from sample entry to result. Designed to offer a complete sexual health profile with an aim of prevention and control, the Vivalytic STI array can be used to diagnose existing infections whilst any identifying co-infections.
The Vivalytic consolidates the full molecular workflow into a small benchtop platform, capable of extraction, PCR amplification and detection. It follows an easy 4 step process from sample entry to results and with the gold standard PCR testing. With most up to date technology, the Vivalytic has wireless connectivity, with no peripherals required, making a unique space saving and hygienic solution. Handling and utilisation are simple and medical professionals require only minimal training.
For more information on the Vivalytic, why not visit our webpage: https://www.randox.com/vivalytic-molecular-point-of-care/
For more information on our new MG, MH, UP/UU test, please contact market@randox.com
References:
- Mardh P. A., Westrom L., von Mecklenburg C., Hammar E. Studies on ciliated epithelia of the human genital tract. I. Swelling of the cilia of Fallopian tube epithelium in organ cultures infected with Mycoplasma hominis. The British Journal of Venereal Diseases. 1976;52(1):52–57.
- Viscardi R. M. Ureaplasmaspecies: role in neonatal morbidities and outcomes. Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition. 2014;99(1):F87–F92.
- World Health Organization. “Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).” int, World Health Organization: WHO, 22 Nov. 2021, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis).
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