Radiometer has used its expertise in acute clinical testing to develop a compact and costeffective bedside immunoassay analyser for measuring critical cardiac biomarkers. The AQT90 FLEX is able to accurately measure a range of biochemical parameters, including Troponin I, Troponin T and D-dimer, at the point of patient care, ensuring a fast and accurate process for ruling-in or ruling-out patients for further assessment or urgent treatment.
Description
Test accuracy and simplicity
The AQT90 FLEX analyser combines the high measuring accuracy required for acute care testing with the ease of use you demand in your everyday work – whether in the lab or at the POC.
AQT90 FLEX provides fully automated and continuous quality control that checks every single process to ensure that every test is performed error-free.
AQT90 FLEX minimizes background fluorescence and detects small amounts of analyte by using time-resolved fluorescence based on europium as a tracer. The high analytical sensitivity of this process delivers heightened clinical sensitivity and helps to secure correct diagnosis.
Throughput
High throughput at the POC
AQT90 FLEX enables you to run up to 30 tests per hour and stores/holds up to 240 tests when the instrument is fully loaded (15 cartridges, 16 tests). Your results are available at the point of care in 10-20 minutes, depending on the parameter, and then printed and automatically sent to LIS/HIS or directly to patient monitors. No sample preparation is required since the AQT90 FLEX measures whole blood.
AQT90 FLEX saves time as you can run more than one patient sample at a time. In addition, AQT90 FLEX offers automatic detection of sample and patient ID, eliminating manual data entry and reducing the risk of human error and ensuring lab quality.
Tests on a given sample can be selected individually or via predefined panels. AQT90 FLEX is capable of measuring up to five parameters on each individual sample.
Safety
At the forefront of patient and operator safety
By eliminating all pre-analytical sample handling and using closed tubes, there are no biological safety hazards involved when working with the AQT90 FLEX. Sample aspiration occurs through the seal on the tube, which means zero risk of spillage – even after testing. The closed reagent pack accumulates waste and can be safely disposed of and replaced after 200 tests.
AQT90 FLEX provides positive patient identification through patient, sample and operator 2D barcode identification that integrates with your hospital’s existing systems.
Connectivity
Full connectivity to your LIS/HIS systems
AQT90 FLEX delivers complete data capture with continuous synchronisation of analysers and LIS/HIS.
The RADIANCETM software solution provides you with complete remote control that emulates the data control and flow of a central laboratory, with the potential to encompass multiple hospitals within a region.
Markers
Comprehensive cardiac panel and markers for coagulation, infection and pregnancy
| Parameter | Units | Measuring Ranges |
| Troponin T | µg/L (or ng/L) | 0.010-25 (10-25,000) |
| Troponin I | µg/L (or ng/L) | 0.010-50 (10-50,000) |
| CKMB | µg/L | 2-500 |
| Myoglobin | µg/L | 20-900 |
| NT-proBNP | ng/L | 12-35,000 |
| CRP | mg/L | 5-500 |
| ßhCG | IU/L | 2-5,000 |
| D-dimer | µg/L | 80-100,000 |
Point-of-care cardiac testing improves patient care at Blackpool Victoria Hospital
The A&E Department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital is taking advantage of the point-of-care immunoassay capabilities of Radiometer’s AQT90 FLEX analyser to assess patients with low risk chest pain, helping to speed up diagnosis and reduce the need for unnecessary admissions.
Radiometer’s expertise in point-of-care testing ensures that the compact AQT90 FLEX provides cost-effective immunoassay analysis of critical biomarkers at the patient’s bedside. The Blackpool Victoria Hospital team are using the AQT90 FLEX to test for a panel of cardiac markers – Troponin I, CKMB and Myoglobin– as part of its cardiac assessment strategy. Sister Sharon Ellis explained: “We are a busy Accident and Emergency department, and routinely see a wide variety of patients, many with chest pain. As the Trust houses the Regional Cardiac Centre we are well equipped to deal with MIs and other cardiac emergencies however, for low risk cases (with a TIMI score below 2), patients have historically had to wait until 12 hours after the onset of pain for a blood test to rule out a cardiac event. Despite a majority of these cases yielding negative results, this delay had significant implications for the Trust, often requiring an unnecessary admission for the patient. Being able to rule out a cardiac event improves the patient’s journey and outcome.”
“Introduction of the AQT90 FLEX has helped to improve this process significantly, allowing the first test to be performed 60 minutes after the onset of pain, and a follow up test 90 minutes later for confirmation. This rapid turnaround not only reduces the strain on resources, it also offers reassurance to patients by ruling out a cardiac condition more quickly.”
