CAP TODAY Pathology/Laboratory Medicine/Laboratory Management
Same, fewer, small, and single—companies in step with latest needs
“As we move into a health care system driven by more integrated health networks and accountable care organizations, we will see customers wanting to standardize across a test platform to gain economies of scale,” says Jill Downey, Roche Diagnostics’ CoaguChek product marketing manager, professional diagnostics—physician office lab. Roche designed its CoaguChek XS, XS Pro, and XS Plus coagulation meters to use the same test strips. The CoaguChek XS Plus meter received a CLIA waiver in September 2012, Downey says, and customers now are able to use the same meter system in multiple locations within their integrated health care network. With the focus on ACO quality measures, she says, customers will want to standardize across different test parameters—blood glucose and blood gas, for example—and they’ll want connectivity that makes it possible to manage multiple platforms under a single system.
Awaiting the FDA’s clearance of its Abrazo system is Helena Point of Care, which markets the Actalyke XL, Actalyke Mini II, and Cascade POC test systems. Abrazo (not in the product guide) is a next-generation version of the Cascade POC and was developed with the input of numerous focus groups, says Helena global product manager Dave Pearman. Helena is completing or augmenting clinical trials on the Cascade POC’s more esoteric assays—direct thrombin inhibitor, low-molecular-weight heparin, low-range ACT, heparin titration, protamine titration, and fibrinogen. The broad Abrazo menu will allow the user to reduce the number of instruments required to monitor anticoagulants and investigate pathologies, Pearman says, “with the added benefits of ergonomics, small sample size, and advanced software features and connectivity.” Of the newer anticoagulants, Pearman says, “The debate between pharma and POC diagnostic manufacturers continues on whether there’s a future” for assays that target the newer drugs.
New from ITC this year will be its ITC Ensemble software, which provides a single, common data-management and configuration platform for the company’s point-of-care coagulation instruments and its CO-oximetry and blood gas instruments, Beth O’Connell, director of marketing, says. ITC launched its ProTime InRhythm system (not in the product guide) in select European markets.
In CAP TODAY’s guide to POC and self-monitoring coagulation systems are products from these companies and others from Abbott Point of Care, Alere, CoaguSense, Instrumentation Laboratory, and Medtronic Cardiac Surgery. Readers interested in a particular product should confirm it has the stated features and capabilities.
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Brendan Dabkowski is CAP TODAY associate editor.