POC Platform Performs Tests for Diabetes Management

A point-of-care (POC) diabetes patient management platform provides glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), microalbumin/creatinine, and albumin-to-creatinine tests for diabetes management.

Called the DCA Vantage analyzer, the platform monitors a patient's glycemic control and helps physicians to encourage patient compliance by delivering test results during a patient visit. The system is simple and convenient, with no sample or reagent preparation steps.

The DCA Vantage analyzer enables clinicians to provide early detection of kidney disease, the most common complication in patients with diabetes. In addition, there is an onboard glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculator to assist in kidney disease staging.

With the analyzer, physicians can enter a patient ID via touch screen or barcode, view the on-board printed reports and HbA1c patient trending graphs, and easily download the patient results to an external healthcare information technology (HIT) system. For testing sites that require compliance and control of decentralized testing, connectivity to laboratory information system (LIS), operator identification (ID) entry, quality control (QC) reminders, test lockout, remote access, and adjustable correlation to reference methods are available. Other features include the ability to adjust correlation parameters in order to match reference assays or standardize results over multiple systems.

The analyzer's flexible data management enhancements and testing compliance capabilities provide speedy access to patient data. The system is network-ready and test results can be shared within the office, clinic, or among coordinated POC sites.

Simple, convenient testing is enabled by an intuitive color touch-screen display. The operator loads the test cartridge, which includes the patient sample, onto the system and walks away. The system automatically performs the test procedure, stores the patient results and displays, prints, and/or uploads patient results to the LIS.

The DCA Vantage analyzer was launched by Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostic (Tarrytown, NY, USA) for use in Europe. The product is not yet available for in vitro diagnostic use in the United States.


Related Links:
Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostic