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Toyobo Co., Ltd. is releasing a new compact automatic analyzer which can measure various clinical laboratory test items with a high level of sensitivity, on September 17, 2009. The new analyzer features high sensitivity, easy measurement and low pricing.
The analyzer is initially being sold for the measurement of C-reactive protein* (CRP). It enables the high-sensitivity measurement of CRP in newborn children, which has been difficult in the past.
*C-reactive protein (CRP): A type of protein that appears in the blood when inflammations occur in the body, commonly measured as a regular blood test item. CRP has attracted attention in recent years as a marker for arterial sclerosis and other chronic inflammations.
| 1. Development Background |
Point of Care Testing (POCT) refers to testing at the bedside of hospitalized patients, emergency testing, real-time monitoring during operations and other testing at the point of care. It differs from consigned testing at clinical laboratories, which takes time. POCT requires a quick response and simple testing methods.
The new compact automatic analyzer being released by Toyobo meets the key POCT requirements ① results are reported quickly, ② tests can be conducted by anyone, anywhere, at any time, and ③ the equipment is compact and low-priced. The analyzer also provides high-sensitivity measurement, which is achieved using the chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) measurement method.
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| 2. Product Characteristics |
| (1) | High-sensitivity Measurement
The compact automatic analyzer has the highest level of sensitivity in the industry. It provides high-sensitivity CRP measurement without requiring large samples or a lot of time. |
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Measurement of Minimum 5µL Samples
The analyzer can measure CRP with 5µL samples. Only a small volume of blood is required, reducing the burden and enabling CRP measurement of newborns. |
| (b) | Low-concentration Measurement
The analyzer can measure CRP at a concentration of 0.03mg/dL. |
| (c) | Rapid Measurement
The samples can be measured in just five minutes.
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(2) Easy Measurement
The analyzer provides easy measurement as operators simply set the reagent cartridge and press a button. In the future, it will become possible to use the analyzer for measurement of various clinical laboratory test items by just changing different types of reagent cartridges.
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| 3. Future Developments and Sales Plans |
For the first year, Toyobo is aiming at sales of 100 units to small clinics, university hospitals and clinical laboratories with revenues of ¥200 million, including the reagent cartridges.
The compact automatic analyzer can only be used for the measurement of CRP at present. The company plans to release reagents for highly pathogenic avian influenza (for research use only) and prostate-specific antigens (PSA), which are a prostate cancer test item, by the end of 2009, and antigens for influenza (which can distinguish between type A and type B) in the spring of 2010. Toyobo intends to further increase the types of viruses that can be measured using the compact automatic analyzer in the future, toward further expanding sales. |
| 4. Main Product Specifications |
| Price (analyzer main unit): | ¥1.2 million (suggested retail price, tax excluded) |
| Measurement principle: | Chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay measurement method (filter solid phase) |
| Types of samples: | Whole blood, bloom plasma, bloom serum, urine |
| External dimensions: | 280mm W x 310mm D x 275mm H |
| Weight | Approx. 12kg |
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CRP Reagent Cartridge
¥8,700 for 30 tests (suggested retail price,
tax excluded) |
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