Heart Failure Tests for Immunoassay Systems

A test for B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is now available that can be run on any of the Beckman Coulter immunoassay systems. The test has been cleared by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The test is designed for the diagnosis and assessment of chronic heart failure (CHF) and for the risk stratification of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Through clinical evaluation data, a large publications base, and a proven clinical performance history, BNP has been identified as the marker of choice for these diagnostic applications. Developed by Biosite Incorporated (San Diego, CA, USA), the test, called Triage BNP, will be manufactured by Beckman Coulter (Fullerton, CA, USA) under the terms of an agreement signed earlier.

"We are providing a test that can be run on any of the Beckman Coulter immunoassay systems and is standardized to our own existing rapid Triage BNP test,” said Kim Blickenstaff, president and CEO of Biosite. "Biosite is now able to offer healthcare customers--small and large hospitals, heart failure clinics, and reference labs--the broadest range of standardized systems on which to run the Triage BNP Test.”

CHF occurs when the heart cannot maintain adequate circulation of blood due to dysfunction of the organ's pumping action. The impairment of arterial circulation deprives vital organs of oxygen and nutrients, and slows removal of body wastes. The prognosis for CHF is poor. The mortality rate is higher than that of many cancers, with one in five patients with new onset CHF dying within one year.





Related Links:
Biosite
Beckman Coulter