SelectScience
Join Free
Accelerating Science
NewsClinical Diagnostics

New Siemens HIV Combo Assay Provides Quick and Reliable Results

Siemens Healthineers
23 Oct 2013
Sonia Nicholas
Managing Editor and Clinical Lead

Product news

The Siemens Healthcare Enzygnost HIV Integral 4 assay1, an HIV test mainly intended for use in blood banks or laboratories, delivers accurate results quickly and reliably, enabling clinicians to identify HIV infection earlier and improve patient care.

This new assay is an HIV combination test (or HIV Combo test), a type of assay that detects both the HIV p24 antigen and HIV antibodies, and is increasingly becoming the standard screening technique used by healthcare authorities in many countries within the European Union. The development of the new HIV assay demonstrates the company’s innovative power, one of the goals of Siemens Healthcare Initiative “Agenda 2013”.

The Enzygnost HIV Integral 4 assay delivers both excellent specificity and sensitivity. In a study of 14,169 donor samples tested at three different blood banks, initial specificity was demonstrated at 99.94 percent. Data also show that the HIV Integral 4 assay has higher sensitivity and provides superior seroconversion performance (quicker prevalence of the antibody) compared to other currently available assays, detecting HIV infection up to 14 days earlier.

“Reliable and accurate testing technologies are critical to supporting HIV infection control and optimal patient management,” said Stefan Wolf, CEO, Hemostasis, Hematology and Specialty Business Unit, Siemens Healthcare, Diagnostics Division. "The increased sensitivity of the HIV Integral 4 assay enables clinicians to detect disease and initiate treatment earlier, and its high specificity provides our blood bank customers with confidence that the results are precise, enhancing the accuracy of their donor screening programs.”

The new assay is available on the Siemens laboratory systems Quadriga BeFree and BEP.
Launched in November 2011, “Agenda 2013” is an initiative of the Siemens Healthcare Sector to further strengthen its innovative power and competitiveness. Specific measures, which will be implemented by the end of 2013, have been defined in four fields of action: innovation, competitiveness, regional footprint, and people development.



1. The products/features (here mentioned) are not commercially available in all countries. Due to regulatory reasons their future availability cannot be guaranteed. Further details are available from the local Siemens organizations. Not available for sale in the United States.

Photograph Caption: Quadriga BeFree® System for use with Enzygnost®Assays (ELISA)

Links

Siemens HealthineersCompany website

Tags

Blood TransfusionBlood Transfusion involves giving donor blood to a recipient patient. Screening is essential to avoid transfusion reactions. Blood banks use immunohematological techniques to determine rh and ABO blood group, and screen for antibodies using specific antisera. Blood Banks use Direct Coombs Tests (DCT) and Indirect Coombs Tests (IAT) to detect hemolysis and Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN).HematologyIn Haematology / Hematology, complete blood cell counts (or full blood counts) are obtained using automated blood count analyzers to enumerate blood cell types.  Hematology also encompasses haemostasis and coagulation, thrombophilia and hemophilia, plasma viscosity and ESR analysis, hemoglobinopathies, cell morphology and haematinic measurement.ImmunologyImmunological techniques measure and characterize immune responses. Immunology kits and analysis systems often use techniques such as ELISA, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunodiffusion assays, Immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Immunologists use equipment such as flow Cytometers, plate readers, plate washers and fluorescent microscopes.Clinical MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.HIV and AIDSBlood tests are the most common way to identify and monitor HIV and AIDS. Current methods include ELISA, Western blot, RT-PCR viral load and CD4/8 testing. Areas for development include point-of-care assays for use in developing countries, and self-testing ‘at home’ HIV kits.

Related articles