Randox Reagents: Solving the Problem of Heart Attack Misdiagnosis
A report has today revealed that almost a third of patients in England and Wales are being given a misdiagnosis following a heart attack, following a study of 243 NHS hospitals, conducted by researchers at Leeds University.
Timely evaluation of patients with chest pain and subsequently suspected heart attack is a major challenge for hospitals around the world, with chest pain typically representing around 5% of all visits to the Emergency Department (ED) and 25% of ED admissions. One of the biggest challenges facing emergency doctors now is how to prioritise people presenting with chest pain – to primarily deal with those suffering from a heart attack, and to be able to move those who are not, to a different ward, to alleviate the pressures of the overrun A&E departments.
Responding to the escalating misdiagnosis crisis in emergency hospitals across the globe, scientists at Randox Laboratories in the UK have developed a test which could help clinicians rule out heart attacks in patients immediately upon arrival at hospital; allowing clinicians to accurately prioritise those who have truly suffered heart attacks.
This Randox test, for Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), is a highly sensitive biomarker for use in the earlier diagnosis of patients with suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), enabling faster “rule-in” and “rule-out”. H-FABP is detectable as early as 30 minutes after chest pain onset, significantly earlier than traditionally used biomarkers such as Troponin or CK-MB , which typically require 6-12 hours to reach detectable concentrations.
Put simply, given that H-FABP is released earlier than traditional biomarkers used in diagnosing a heart attack, an earlier diagnosis is achievable.
A succession of recent international clinical trials have demonstrated that by combining H-FABP, via this new laboratory assay, with the existing tests already used in hospitals for for Troponin I or Troponin T, the sensitivity and negative predictive value for ruling out AMIs is significantly improved.
Growing evidence indicates that even when one of the newer generation of “highly sensitive” Troponin assays is used, utilising the combination of Troponin and H-FABP is superior to Troponin alone.
The value of H-FABP is not just in positive diagnosis – but doctors are beginning to see it as a means of ‘ruling out heart attack’ when a patient presents at A&E with chest pain.
Please do get in touch if you would like to find out more about our H-FABP test, and how this can go a long way in solving the heart attack misdiagnosis crisis, by emailing reagents@randox.com
We Are Randox | Omagh Speed Networking promotes careers in STEM
We’re sure you’ve heard of “Speed Dating”, but what about “Speed Networking”? Randox’s R&D Scientist, Dr. Dwaine Vance tried it out to spread the word about Randox Careers in STEM!
Dr Dwaine Vance visited Omagh High School to represent Randox Careers. He sat down with us, and we discussed the importance of the event. Dr. Vance told us:
On Wednesday the 15th June I represented Randox Careers at a ‘speed networking’ event at Omagh High School. This involved groups of students moving from one employer stand to the next for a 5 minute ‘mini network’. There was two sessions during the morning involving GCSE level pupils. The aim of the ‘speed networking’ event was to provide pupils with opportunities to meet local Northern Irish companies within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sectors, of which Randox Laboratories play a pivotal role.
We, at Randox, want to inspire students to think about their own career plans and to allow them to gather information about the local job market. By doing this, we’re also giving them the opportunity to be aware of the jobs that are available and the importance of STEM related subjects, as well as letting them see how employers value their other curriculum subjects and their personal skills and attributes. My objective as a employee of Randox was to showcase a range of careers for all abilities within the company with a focus on STEM careers e.g. science and engineering.
The importance of spreading awareness of the opportunities in science and engineering from a young age is imperative, as many students are unaware of the vast range of differentiation in different careerpaths, stemming from one subject or degree class. Dr. Dwaine Vance went on to discuss the events of the networking conference:
As part of each ‘mini network’ I provided students with a brief overview of Randox. Students were given the opportunity to watch videos depicting our expertise and to ask questions about how their interests could be incorporated within Randox. The training department at Randox provided me with pop-up stands, recruitment pathway brochures, merchandise e.g. pens, stopwatches, mug coasters and even Biochip Array Technology key rings!
Overall the students gained a good knowledge of Randox, they were particularly keen to learn about the local and global opportunities available at Randox. In addition, students were keen to know more about the veterinary aspect of Randox. It was comforting to discover that the majority of pupils had previous knowledge of the Randox brand from the press (as we have recently experienced a great boost in brand visibility through Grand national sponsorship), Randox health (television adverts) and Confidante (local radio stations).
The pupils at Omagh High School were keen to ask me about my role within the company and what my day to day roles and responsibilities are. I was happy to provide students with my research and development activities and they were interested to hear that I was involved in the development of a genetic test that aims to predict your future risk of heart disease by investigating your own DNA.
At Randox I am part of a small team of experienced research scientists that are developing a genetic risk prediction test for heart disease and myocardial infarction. This test aims to simultaneously genotype 20 genetics variants that have been previously associated with increased risk of heart disease. This Randox molecular test is in collaboration with leading University academics and will help reduce the burden of heart disease throughout the world by providing an accurate risk assessment of disease so personalised treatment can be provided to those who require it most. To quote Randox Health, “Prevention is better than cure”.
From everyone at the Randox Careers team and from Dr. Dwaine Vance, we’d like to thank Omagh High School for inviting us to attend this incredibly beneficial Speed Networking event, where we feel we have truly impacted the young minds of tomorrow. We look forward to the future of diagnostics, with you!
Randox Reagents Team Celebrate British Science Week!
This British Science Week 2016, the Reagents Team at Randox are celebrating the hard work our Research and Development Team put in every day, to help bring the best quality diagnostic reagents to the market.
We caught up with Emmet Donnelly, Clinical Chemistry R&D Scientist, to explain a bit about what his work involves, and how it’s impacting on global healthcare!
What is your position and what does it involve?
I am a Clinical Analyst on the Clinical Chemistry R&D Team. This role involves the development of new reagents and the improvement of existing reagents. It also involves the transfer and testing of existing chemistries onto new analyser platforms. Troubleshooting and resolving customer queries also forms part of a clinical analyst’s role.
For those of us who aren’t in the industry, can you explain what reagents and assays are?
A reagent is a chemical used to detect the quantity of another component or analyte in a sample (blood or urine), for example a cholesterol reagent contains the necessary chemical make-up to detect the amount of cholesterol in a patient sample.
An assay is the procedure involved in determining the amount of analyte in a sample using a reagent. For example a cholesterol assay involves enzymes within the reagent breaking the cholesterol down into its chemical constituents. These constituents react with other components in the reagent to form a coloured indicator. If this assay is being used on a clinical chemistry analyser, light is passed through the coloured mixture and the amount of light absorbed is proportional to the concentration of analyte in the sample.
How does you work impact on global healthcare?
The diagnostic assays are a vital component in the diagnosis of disease. In order to find out, for example, why a patient is feeling poorly they must first have a blood test to measure all their blood analytes. This will help diagnose the underlying problem and aid in choosing and monitoring the correct treatment for that patient. For example a patient suffering from diabetes must constantly have their glucose levels monitored so that correct doses of insulin can be administered.
What is your favourite Randox product and why?
I like some of the old products like glucose, ALP and cholesterol because they are the tried and tested reagents that are essential for monitoring the health of our vital organs. These always comprise part of the panel of testing to be done when our GP takes a blood sample from us.
I also like the newer reagent products such as the DOA (Drugs of Abuse) reagents. They offer a means of detecting illegal substances in urine samples offering aid to law enforcement.
Emmet’s interview is available to view on YouTube.
If you would like further information on our diagnostic reagents, contact reagents@randox.com.
Immunoturbidimetry vs nephelometry for protein detection
Immunoturbidimetry methods have become the main technique for performing protein tests. The transition from nephelometry has been cautious but is increasing as laboratories enjoy the comparability and flexibility of immunoturbidimetry.
Immunoturbidimetry and nephelometry both measure the turbidity of a sample to determine the level of an analyte. Upon addition of the assay reagent, antibodies and antigen cluster to form an immune complex that precipitates, increasing the turbidity of the sample. When light is passed through the reaction solution, some light is scattered by the sample, some light is absorbed by the sample and the rest passes through the sample.
Immunoturbidimetry measures the absorbance of the light by the sample, nephelometry measures the light scattered at a fixed angle. The level of analyte is determined by comparison with a calibrator of known concentration.
Immunoturbidimetry is ideal for the detection of proteins, where the analyte concentration is inversely proportional to the transmitted light signal. Historically nephelometry has been more sensitive than conventional immunoturbidimetry. In latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry, inert microscopic particles enlarge the immune complexes, amplifying the reaction and significantly increasing the sensitivity of the reaction.
Nephelometers are dedicated analysers only capable of performing this type of assay. In addition, they are:
- slow
- have high consumable costs
- require highly trained personnel
Immunoturbidimetric tests are carried out on routine biochemistry analysers that are:
- versatile
- fast
- cost-effective
- offer longer reagent stability
- sensitive
The main advantage of nephelometry was its sensitivity; however latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry has closed this gap. Immunoturbidimetric tests are an increasingly accepted alternative to nephelometry for specific protein assays, and studies have shown a close correlation between Randox immunoturbidimetric tests and nephelometry.
If you are interested in running your protein assays on a routine biochemistry analyser, Randox offers a large range of high quality routine and niche protein assays that can be run on most automated analysers, including: Alpha-I acid glycoprotein; alpha-I antitrypsin; anti-streptolysin O; apolipoprotein A-I; apolipoprotein A-II; apolipoprotein B; apolipoprotein C-II; apolipoprotein C-III; apolipoprotein E; ceruloplasmin; complement C3; complement C4; CRP; cystatin C; ferritin; haptoglobin; HbA1c; IgA; IgE; IgG; IgM; lipoprotein (a); microalbumin; myoglobin; rheumatoid factor; transferrin and transthyretin (prealbumin). For more information, download our Reagents Brochure or email: reagents@randox.com.
IgG
Reagent | IgG
Key Benefits of IgG
Excellent precision
The IgG assay showed a precision of less than 4% CV
Exceptional correlation
The assay showed a correlation of r=0.99 against another commercially available method
Completely automated protocols
Available for a range of analysers
Other features
- Immunoturbidimetric method
- Liquid ready-to-use reagents
- Open vial stability of 28 days at 10⁰C
- Measuring range 1.61 – 56 g/l
Ordering information
| Cat No | Size | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG3833 | R1 3 x 20ml (L) R2 3 x 14ml | Enquire | Kit Insert Request | MSDS | Buy Online |
| IG8044 | R1 4 x 10.5ml (L) R2 4 x 4ml | Enquire | Kit Insert Request | MSDS | Buy Online |
| (L) Indicates liquid option | |||||
Instrument Specific Applications (ISA’s) are available for a wide range of biochemistry analysers. Contact us to enquire about your specific analyser.
What is IgG used for?
Measurement of immunoglobulin G is the basis of the serological diagnosis of several infectious diseases. Uses of IgG measurement include diagnosis of infectious and inflammatory diseases, diagnosis of malignancies, to detect the presence of soluble antigens and monitoring therapy in myeloma.
The Randox IgG assay is an immunoturbidimetric end-point method for manual use and on automated analysers. The increase in turbidity in a sample containing human IgG is measured at 340 nm.
Related products
Related Products
Specific Proteins Panel
For more information or to view more reagents within the specific proteins panel, please click here
