High Sensitivity CRP Tests

New high sensitivity tests for C-reactive protein (CRP) are designed to be used for the assessment of cardiovascular risk and/or for acute phase monitoring of cardiac patients.

The high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) assay from Dade Behring (Deerfield, IL, USA) is now called CardioPhase hsCRP, to underscore the company's intended use to include risk assessment and risk stratification. Specifically, the assay may now be used as an independent risk marker to identify patients at risk for future cardiovascular disease (risk assessment) as well as a marker of prognosis or recurrent events in patients with stable coronary disease or acute coronary syndromes (risk stratification), when used in conjunction with traditional clinical laboratory evaluation. The assay is run on the company's BN systems.

"Having this expanded use as an independent marker for cardiovascular disease risk prediction is an important clinical advance that we wanted to highlight with a name that has a discernible link to its cardiovascular disease-state use,” explained Hanjoon Ryu, vice president, marketing, North America, for Dade Behring.

In a related development, Dade-Behring has granted a nonexclusive sublicense for the development, manufacture, and marketing of a high sensitivity CRP assay for the assessment of cardiovascular risk to Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics (Raritan, NJ, USA).

The hsCRP assay is expected to be part of an additional 20 new MicroTip assays targeted for launch on Ortho-Clinical's Vitros 5,1 FS chemistry system. Assays based on MicroTip technology are processed by using disposable tips and cuvettes, eliminating the maintenance and cost associated with water, wash reagents, plumbing, drains, fixed probes, and mixing assemblies.

"We are pleased to be able to provide our customers with hsCRP to aid in the assessment of cardiac risk in patients,” said Stephanie Wells, vice president, marketing, worldwide clinical laboratory franchise, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics. "Continuing to expand our menu of assays to the Vitros family of systems demonstrates our commitment to continuing investment in the clinical laboratory, as well as to development of markers with high clinical value.”


Related Links:
Dade Behring
Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics