Roche Diagnostics has launched an assay for the early assessment of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with impaired renal function.
The Roche Cystatin C assay is more sensitive than creatinine measurements, enabling the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at an early stage when therapeutic intervention is possible.
Cystatin C is an endogenous substance synthesised by all nucleated cells at a constant rate and is filtered freely by the glomerulus.
Unlike creatinine, Cystatin C levels are not affected by muscle mass, age (below 50), gender or inflammation and it is only eliminated via filtration, making it a convenient and accurate marker for the assessment of GFR, according to the company.
By indicating a reduction in GFR sooner, it is suitable for the assessment of patients in the early stages of CKD and reduces the need to perform invasive determinations of GFR.
The Roche Cystatin C assay is promoted for use in the assessment of children under four and for patients under the age of 60, as well as for the early diagnosis of initially minor kidney damage (such as in diabetes patients).
It can also be used to monitor kidney disease and post-transplantation patients, as well as for the dose adjustment of renally excreted drugs.
The assay requires minimal handling and produces precise and sensitive results from a low sample volume (2ul).
