Axis-Shield has launched the Afinion multiparameter desktop analyser for use at the point of care.
Tests already available on Afinion include glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and C-reactive protein (CRP), with albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) and prothrombin time international normalised ratio (PT-INR) in the final stages of development.
Other tests (eg homocysteine) will be introduced later.
Estimation of HbA1c is used to monitor diabetes and is the parameter of choice for long-term glycaemic control, and Afinion can provide results automatically in just three minutes. C-reactive protein is used as a diagnostic tool for the differentiation of viral and bacterial infections. A rapid CRP test is valuable in avoiding the prescription of antibiotics if an infection is likely to have a viral cause.