( system runs from an external PC with a ...)When Volume Matters, Immunoassay Systems Deliver,Health

Bayer HealthCare Diagnostic Division, Tarrytown, N.Y., a unit of the German firm Bayer AG, produces the ADVIA Centaur system, designed for flexible operation and integration with diverse laboratory automation systems. This high-volume product offers a walk-away capacity of up to 840 tests and is able to process 240 tests per hour. It holds 180 samples when fully loaded and offers unattended automatic repeat, dilution and reflex testing.

The system features no-pause loading of all reagents, samples and suppliesthe only immunoassay system with this capabilityand requires no daily start-up routine. Its continuous sample loading design allows samples to be run as received for faster turnaround time. A dedicated STAT port prioritizes STATs automatically, without further operator intervention or disrupting work in progress. STAT results are available in 18 minutes.

This large system is highly versatile; core immunoassays include: fertility, therapeutic drug monitoring, infectious disease, allergy, cardiovascular, anemia, oncology and thyroid. Over 300 specific IgEs, mixes and an allergy screen are also available and the company says that it is aggressively expanding the systems menu and developing novel assays for cardiovascular, oncology, allergy, HIV and complete hepatitis panels.

While bedside and clinic testing offer the advantages of immediate results and caregiver-patient interaction, the day-in, day-out demand for high volume test production in the hospital or large clinic assure that multiple-application devices like those highlighted here will remain a necessity of modern care. As manufacturers continue to refine and improve these systems in response to fierce competition, laboratories and patients can only benefit.
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