This company has released new high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (CRP) reagents. This test can detect CRP levels as low as 0.5 mg/L.
     Recent studies have indicated that CRP levels that are elevated yet still in the normal range, may be a more specific indicator for risk of heart attack and stroke than cholesterol or lipid abnormalities. This assay has demonstrated minimal interference from lipemia, bilirubin and hemolysis.
     Using this company’s technology, labs may run the assay on their primary clinical chemistry analyzer without the need for a separate nephelometer or heterogeneous immunoassay analyzer, making the test more readily available in hospital-based, physician group practice, commercial and hospital core laboratories.
High sensitivity CRP is used to help physicians assess risk for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease in advance of a traumatic event, such as heart attack or stroke.
     CRP levels are being studied by researchers as predictors of risk of heart attack or stroke, particularly since inflammation within the arteries occurs in plaque formation that eventually narrows the arteries, a process known as atherosclerosis.
Olympus
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Keywords: cardiac markers