Bayer Diagnostics DCA 2000+ portable microalbuminuria and HbA1c analyser has played a pivotal role in a recent study conducted at University Hospital Birmingham Foundation NHS Trust
This study demonstrated how low level urine albumin analysis could be a useful marker of mortality risk for patients in intensive care units (ICU).
In the study, urine albumin measurements were taken from medical and surgical patients within 15 minutes of admission to the ICU and again after 4-6 hours, using Bayer's DCA 2000+ portable analyser and dedicated microalbuminuria cartridge.
"We need to identify patients whose inflammatory response to trauma, surgery or acute illness is not under homeostatic control when they are admitted to ICU" explains Peter Gosling, consultant clinical scientist, who led the study.
"Such patients may go on to suffer vascular endothelial dysfunction, which represents a crucial early stage in the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome - a pathway which can subsequently lead to multiple organ failure and death.
"Development of vascular endothelial dysfunction is reflected in the kidneys by increased amounts of albumin in the urine, only detectable by sensitive immunoassay".
The test is easy for nurses to perform at the bedside, providing measurements for albumin, creatinine and the ratio between them in just seven minutes.
Results in the study showed excellent correlation with laboratory methods.
To find out more about the study, and how Dr Gosling received the UK Department of Health's first ever chief scientific officer healthcare science award for innovation and research in respect of this ground-breaking work, please ask for a copy of the latest Bayer Diagnostics 'Near patient testing BayerNet brief'.
