ACB Test Available on Roche/Hitachi System

A new albumin cobalt binding (ACB) in vitro diagnostic test for the detection of ischemia modified albumin (IMA) is now available on the Roche/Hitachi 917 laboratory instrument.

IMA is a serum biomarker that assists in the early evaluation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) prior to heart attack in patients presenting to hospital emergency departments with chest pain suggestive of cardiac origin. Acute coronary syndrome is a constellation of clinical signs and symptoms that accompany heart disease. Chest pain is the second most common reason for visiting the emergency department (ED), but only about one in five patients will be diagnosed with ACS.

Many tests, such as electrocardiography (ECG) and biomarkers like troponin, are limited in their impact on making "rule out” decisions in the ED. The "rule out” process can take from eight to 48 hours. The ACB test for IMA can help emergency doctors identify candidates for early discharge, saving time and healthcare costs.

"IMA is an important addition to the diagnostic tools available to emergency physicians, and we plan to continue expanding its availability,” said Robert Dominici, president and CEO of Ischemia Technologies, which developed the ACB test. By the end of 2004, the company plans to release at least two more clinical chemistry platforms. The ACB test is also available on the Beckman Synchron LX20 (Beckman Coulter).




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Ischemia Technologies