SelectScience
Join Free
Accelerating Science
NewsLife Sciences

Siemens Launches Syphilis Assay for ADVIA Centaur

Siemens Healthineers
17 Aug 2011
Sonia Nicholas
Managing Editor and Clinical Lead

Product news

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has announced the launch of its ADVIA Centaur® Syphilis Assay1 for the detection of antibodies against Treponema pallidum, a bacterium known to cause the sexually-transmitted disease syphilis. The assay has been CE-marked for use on Siemens’ ADVIA Centaur family of high-throughput, random-access immunoassay systems.

Syphilis has been called the “great imposter” because its symptoms can mimic other infections in advanced stages2. When left untreated, syphilis can lead to serious neurological and cardiovascular complications, and cause stillbirth in pregnant women. Fortunately, detection of the presence of syphilis antibodies in patients may be used to support decisions for antibiotic therapy, detect persons at risk to spread the infection and identify those that are not aware of their infection, thus preventing late complications. Recently, a meta-analysis of 10 studies involving 41,049 women found that screening and treatment of the infection in pregnant women could reduce by more than half the number of stillbirths and perinatal deaths resulting from maternal transmission of syphilis3.

“Testing for syphilis is a simple, yet effective tool for optimising health outcomes in at-risk patients,” said Dave Hickey, Chief Executive Officer, Chemistry, Immunoassay, Automation and Diagnostics IT Business Unit, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. “Consolidating syphilis testing onto a single system addresses a critical challenge of laboratories today - to improve operational efficiency while delivering fast, accurate results that help guide clinicians in identifying and caring for patients affected by this disease.”

Siemens offers an extensive portfolio of highly automated infectious disease assays (available on the ADVIA Centaur/XP/CP and IMMULITE® 2000 XPi immunoassay systems) compatible with laboratory automation. The addition of the syphilis assay to the ADVIA Centaur menu allows further consolidation of infectious disease testing onto a single platform, helping laboratories to improve their efficiency and deliver fast, accurate results.

Links

Siemens HealthineersCompany website

Tags

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.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.Point-of-CarePoint-of-Care Testing (POCT) or Near Patient Testing (NPT) products are available for urine, blood and other clinical chemistry analyses. POCT includes: blood glucose testing, blood gas and electrolytes analysis, rapid coagulation testing (PT / INR), rapid cardiac markers diagnostics, drugs of abuse screening, urine strips testing, pregnancy testing, fecal occult blood analysis, food pathogens screening, hemoglobin diagnostics, infectious disease testing and cholesterol screening.Clinical TrialsClinical Trials, an essential part of drug discovery process, assess the safety and effectiveness of a new medication or device in the pharmaceutical industry. Clinical Trials are a phased process (Phase 0, Phase I, Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV) which begins after initial preclinical testing.

Related articles

Siemens Launches Syphilis Assay for ADVIA Centaur