Polymer Technology Systems, Inc. (PTS, Inc.), the U.S.-based manufacturer of the CardioChek family of point-of-care diagnostic products, introduced the CardioChek Plus analyzer today at the annual American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) in Houston. The CardioChek Plus analyzer is a combination reflectance lipid and electrochemical glucose analyzer that delivers rapid test results for lipids and glucose simultaneously. The system has Wi-Fi capabilities and can transmit patient results to data collection applications. It is the only point-of-care multi-analyte system of its kind that can provide a glucose result, a calculated LDL measurement, a non-HDL calculated measurement, an LDL/HDL ratio, and a total cholesterol (TC)/HDL ratio simultaneously with a simple fingerstick blood sample while providing important total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides values at the same time.
According to the American Diabetes Association, heart attack or stroke affect people with diabetes more than twice as often as people without diabetes. Recognizing this linkage, the CardioChek Plus provides rapid on-site glucose plus lipid panel screening to help identify at-risk individuals. The capability to deliver both results in just two minutes enables healthcare professionals to improve their throughput, which is particularly important in today's health promotion/screening environment. "The CardioChek Plus analyzer is an advanced analyzer that provides the enhanced functionality our customers have asked for," says Robert Huffstodt, President and CEO of PTS, Inc. "It is faster, easier and smarter and it all adds up to a major advance in the ongoing effort to help people lead longer, healthier and more active lives."
The CardioChek Plus system builds upon the highly successful CardioChek PA platform by adding an electrochemical glucose test, Wi-Fi capabilities, and additional ratios. The electrochemical glucose capability provides a faster result than reflectance testing and enables total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, calculated LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, LDL/HDL ratio, non-HDL, and glucose results to be delivered simultaneously. With a test-to-result speed of just 2 minutes, the CardioChek Plus system delivers this critical information more rapidly than other analyzers and all direct test results are displayed on one screen. The CardioChek Plus analyzer also performs all single and multiple analyte tests currently available for other CardioChek systems. In addition, the device offers a larger, high-resolution screen, simple two-button operation, and there is no refrigeration required for test strips.
"The ease-of-use, test-to-result speed, and ability to run multiple tests simultaneously make the CardioChek Plus system the best choice available for many healthcare professionals. The system simply has no competition when it comes to delivering operational efficiency," explains Huffstodt. "It provides the screening information needed to help improve wellness and ultimately save lives."
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