New Drug-Monitoring Assays

New drug-monitoring assays for lithium and vancomycin are intended to insure that the level of drugs taken by patients is within therapeutic range.

The assays are designed for use on the Advia 1650, 2400, and 1200 chemistry systems of the Diagnostics Division of Bayer HealthCare (Tarrytown, NY, USA). Lithium carbonate is a mood stabilizer that reduces the risk of suicide for people with biopolar disorder, once called manic depression. Characterized by extreme mood swings with episodes of severe depression, people with bipolar disorder are 10-20 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population.

Vancomycin hydrochloride is used to treat patients hospitalized for severe infections that do not respond to other antibiotics. These infections include those of the blood or bone; those of the lower respiratory tract, such as pneumonia or complications of flu; and endocarditis.

"Bayer is committed to providing a broad-enough menu to satisfy the majority of any laboratory's high volume testing needs,” said Tom Warekois, senior vice president of global strategic marketing for the Diagnostics Division of Bayer. "Combined with productive and adaptable instrumentation, Bayer Diagnostics can deliver the throughput and flexibility that laboratories and physicians need to make potentially life-saving clinical decisions faster.”

With the new assays, Bayer Diagnostics has expanded its menu offering to 78 tests on the Advia 1650 and 2400, and 62 tests on the Advia 1200.





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