24-Hour Open-Vial Stability

Stable for 2 years

Audit MicroControls Inc, Las Vegas, has released its MicroFD cardiac markers trilevel control. With target values for CK-MB, myoglobin, troponin-I and troponin-T, this freeze-dried quality control is stable for 2 years unopened at 2°C to 8°C. The product's open-vial stability is 24 hours. The free Auditor online QC program is included at no charge; and a companion calibration verification/linearity product, MicroCV cardiac markers linearity set, is also available. Five linearity-material levels are provided to allow for complete monitoring of that specific test system's reportable range, as defined by the manufacturer. Recently adopted CLIA-88 regulations state that each laboratory must revalidate each of its test method's analytical measurement ranges at least every 6 months as well as follow changes in lots of analytically critical reagents or major system components.

Audit MicroControls Inc
(866) 252-8348;
www.auditmicro.com

Monitors Cardiac Assessment

Designed for multiple methods

Liquichek™ Cardiac Markers Plus Control and Liquichek Cardiac Markers Plus Control LT from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif, are on the cutting edge of cardiac marker controls. These comprehensive products can aid in monitoring a wide range of cardiac assessment testing. Both have the same extensive analyte menu, including NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, troponin I, troponin T, CK-MB, myoglobin, homocysteine, total CK, and digitoxin. The two controls have a 3-year shelf life and a 20-day open-vial stability for all analytes. Cardiac Markers Plus Control LT has lower troponin targets than Cardiac Markers Plus Control, and it also has a fourth lower level available. The controls are made from human serum and are designed for multiple methods and instruments. Controls from a third-party manufacturer, such as Bio-Rad Laboratories, provide an unbiased assessment of any testing system. They can help detect assay problems and improve the quality of results.

Bio-Rad Laboratories
(800) 224-6723;
www.bio-rad.com/diagnostics

Myocardial Infarction Diagnosis

Fast turnaround

The Access® AccuTnI® troponin I assay from Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, Calif, aids in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiac muscle damage, and can be used to help determine a patient's recurrent risk of MI. The assay has excellent sensitivity and precision, minimal response to interferences, excellent calibration stability, and a fast laboratory turnaround time of approximately 12 minutes to first result. Access AccuTnI can be used on human serum or heparinized plasma, the most common sample drawn from patients. Turnaround time is improved, since technicians do not have to wait for heparinized blood to clot. AccuTnI is available on Beckman Coulter's UniCel® DxI 800 and Access 2 immunoassay systems. The systems' cardiac panel includes tests for myoglobin, CK-MB, and digoxin; other panels that can be run on the systems include cancer, anemia, infectious disease, reproductive, and other endocrine tests.

Beckman Coulter
(800) 352-3433;
www.beckmancoulter.com