Olympus UK Ltd - Diagnostics

A fully automated HbA1c assay has now been introduced for the Olympus AU680 chemistry analyser. This new assay completely eliminates the inconvenience and risk associated with manual pre-treatment for this routinely used blood glucose monitoring test. With high-speed whole blood testing capability, laboratory professionals can attain even faster results
and improved efficiencies with the AU680. The introduction of complete HbA1c testing allows consolidation onto the recently introduced Olympus AU680 analyser, making it not only cost-effective but also able to streamline workflow with faster repeat and reflex testing. Optimised to meet the latest performance and standardisation requirements, the addition of the new HbA1c assay enables the AU680 system to
deliver fully automated performance for diabetes monitoring.

Olympus Life Science Europa has introduced the latest member of the AU clinical chemistry family, the AU680. Based on in-depth customer consultation, the AU680 is intended to help
medium to high throughput laboratories meet ever increasing pressures on time and productivity. The benefits of the AU680 can be divided into three main categories - improved user convenience including automation options; extended analytical reach and reduced operating costs. The AU680 is operated through a new and highly intuitive Graphic User Interface, including embedded videos to support key maintenance steps. Flexibility is assured with a menu capacity of up to 63 different assays on board.

Olympus has introduced a new pathology test request management
system – RequestVision – to streamline the complete process of patient test ordering through to laboratory results.
Using barcode technology, RequestVision dramatically reduces
administration time and importantly improves patient care by shortening test turnaround times. The design enables GP’s to efficiently order patient tests by automatically logging orders with the laboratory via a completely electronic web based system. The adhesive barcode is printed directly by the GP and attached immediately to the sample, this contains all the data the lab requires to fulfil the test request.

Olympus has introduced a comprehensive range of advanced arc burner light sources for all levels of fluorescent work. All systems feature unique power control ensuring stability and
longer bulb lives. A number of products have been introduced. Three versions in the X-Cite 120 XL range provide exceptional ease-of-use since they are alignment-free and offer a 2000 hour guarantee for each burner. The MT10_D
features all the components necessary for advanced multi-colour fluorescence illumination. The MT10 and MT20 use the same burner technology as the MT10_D but take the concept further with increased functionality.

Olympus has introduced the AU3000i free T3 (fT3) assay for the measurement of free T3 in human serum or plasma. Within Europe, the addition of this new competitive immunoassay
completes the Olympus thyroid function test panel, which already includes the other thyroid related hormones TSH, fT4, T4 and T3. This means the AU3000i immunoassay system can
assist in the efficient diagnosis of thyroid disorders. The assay shows excellent correlation with alternative methods and
performs with outstanding analytical specificity against all tested potential cross reactants. The new assay is a highly sensitive paramagnetic particle, chemiluminescent
immunoassay.

Olympus Diagnostics  and Saladax Biomedical have entered into a development agreement to accelerate introduction of a blood test expected to help oncologists more effectively dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a widely used chemotherapy agent. The 5-FU test will enable more timely and cost-effective dosing, thereby optimising therapeutic effects and minimising toxicity among the 1.5 million patients treated annually around the world. SBI will now adapt the first of a line of Personalised Chemotherapy Management (PCM) assays for quantifying the concentration of 5-FU in cancer patients to the Olympus AU400 clinical chemistry system, while the parties finalise the terms of the non-exclusive multi-year distribution agreement.