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Things to Consider While Developing Assays

The development of a biological assay must take a number of fundamental elements into account, regardless of the application or the individual molecule to be analysed. It is crucial to give the assay significant consideration, as well as the entire process that needs to be designed from sample preparation through analysis of the assay's data quality output. The main assay development considerations covered in this article are generally applicable.

No matter the test being created (e.g., antibody-based assays like ELISA and quantitative PCR, electrochemiluminescence, measurement of enzyme activity assays, cell-based assays or total protein/protein concentration, or customised assay like single-molecule activation assay), all are legitimate. Assays come in a wide variety. However, there are some crucial components of test construction that apply to all assays. Here is a simple checklist to help you get ready to build a new assay.

What chemical and objective are being assessed?

The first step is to be crystal clear about the molecule to be tested and the exact attribute that should be assessed. Although it may seem obvious, this issue is very important and forms the basis for all subsequent assay development efforts. For instance, the researcher may want to determine whether they want to assess the overall amount of a specific protein in a cell lysate, only the phosphorylated form, or both. Similar to this, the study can mandate that measurements be made of particular isoforms or splice variants of the relevant protein. The assay needs to be created to yield precise data on the molecule being studied.

What’s the source of the molecule?

It is crucial to take into account the molecule's source before doing the analysis. Do you want to measure the molecule in a body fluid like serum or urine?  Is the molecule to be evaluated in a biopsy sample from a human or an organ taken from an experimental animal? It's possible that the source will be in vitro-cultured cells, in which case it's crucial to assess whether the cells are limited primary cells or an easily scaled-up immortalised cell line.

The availability and number of samples will depend on the molecule's source. As mentioned in the sections that follow, it will also establish the molecule's concentration and could significantly affect its stability. Therefore, it is likely that the origin of the target molecule will have a substantial impact on the final test workflow while doing tests like silver assay, gold assay etc.

Molecular stability

Understanding the stability of the chemical for which the assay is to be built is also crucial. Does it require additional care to be taken during sample collection and preparation for the test in order to produce valid assay results, or is it moderately or severely unstable? Even molecules that are stable when they are isolated may become unstable when they are exposed to the complex biological environment of the samples that will be tested, where they may be vulnerable to oxidation, proteolysis, or the loss of post-translational modifications.

Semi-quantitative v/s quantitative

It's critical to decide up front whether a semi-quantitative measurement of the molecule, such as a Western blot, would suffice for the project's needs or whether a rigorously quantitative assay is necessary in order to create an assay that is appropriate for the task at hand.

The quantity of samples to be analysed

How many samples will need to be analysed is another crucial factor to take into account. A labour-intensive, multi-step manual assay approach may be appropriate if just a small number of samples will be analysed. Conversely, it will be crucial to simplify, streamline, and automate the assay procedure as much as lab resources permit, for example, with a format like microarray, if hundreds or tens of thousands of tests are to be conducted, maybe as part of a chemical profiling exercise. But arrays have their own unique set of issues, namely intra-assay spatial fluctuation.

Our approach to effective assay development could benefit your company whether you're wanting to increase your competitive edge or release a new diagnostic product. AgPlus Diagnostics tried-and-true method for assay development could improve your offering and your company if you're seeking a competitive advantage or want to introduce a new diagnostic product to the market.

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Point of Care Lab Testing: An Overview

POCT, also known as point-of-care testing, is the examination of patient specimens outside of the clinical laboratory, close to or at the site of patient treatment. POCT is typically carried out by healthcare professionals who have not had laboratory training, though it also includes patient self-monitoring. It has the ability to deliver a quick result close to the patient that can be used. The main motivator is the idea that sending samples to the clinical laboratory may cause a delay in clinical decision-making. Considerations of rising expenses for staff training, connecting to the laboratory information system (LIS), quality control (QC), and external quality assurance (EQA) procedures, all necessary for accreditation under ISO 22870, are weighed against this.

Being able to show that a quicker result (shorter turnaround times (TATs)) can leverage a clinically significant benefit in decision-making VS the central laboratory is necessary to justify POCT (CL).

Why is point of care lab testing gaining so much popularity?

The demand for accessible diagnosis, monitoring, and screening tests is growing globally as health care becomes more consumer-focused. In certain circumstances, technology has caught up; smaller, more portable, and simpler to use testing instruments have been created.

Between 2013 and 2018, the market for point-of-care testing is anticipated to expand by 9.3%. This pattern has a variety of causes. Point-of-care testing enables you and your physicians to make decisions about your medical care more quickly and, ideally, more effectively because results are provided in real time rather than over the course of several hours or days. You won't need to schedule a second appointment because you can start receiving follow-up testing or treatments right away with the results you obtain during your consultation.

As the focus of medical care turns to prevention, early detection, and the management of chronic illnesses, point-of-care testing is helpful. Early diagnosis in the emergency room can assist in determining whether patients with flu-like symptoms have the flu or a higher-risk virus like Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The fast strep test in the doctor's office enables early strep throat treatment and lowers the risk of consequences from delaying treatment. With the help of glucose metres, persons with diabetes can customise their insulin therapy at home. The market for point-of-care testing is dominated by it.

Rapid screening for infectious disorders like HIV, dengue fever, malaria, and influenza is also becoming more and more necessary. In rural locations with poor infrastructure for transporting samples or in community clinics with limited access to a central lab, infectious disease testing is helpful. Testing for infectious diseases at the point of care can also result in faster recovery and infection containment.

Benefits of POC testing

Point-of-care testing, when used correctly, can result in more effective, efficient medical treatments and higher-quality medical care. Point of care lab testing enables you to take charge of your medical care at home by enabling more frequent and reliable testing. The ideal outcome is higher-quality healthcare. For instance, research has indicated that patients who monitor blood thinners (anticoagulants) like warfarin themselves saw fewer severe side effects from the medication. Point-of-care testing can also deliver test findings in areas where clinical laboratories are absent or inaccessible, such as in underdeveloped nations, remote areas, on cruise liners, or even on the space shuttle.

Precautions to take while doing POC testing

Despite the fact that many point-of-care tests are made to be reasonably risk-free and easy to use, they are not error-proof. Even healthcare professionals who use point-of-care testing must carefully follow the test instructions and be conversant with the test system. If not carried out appropriately, certain point-of-care tests, such as those used to modify drug doses, could have detrimental effects on health. Point-of-care coordination teams are present in many large hospitals to guarantee adequate testing protocol adherence.

It's crucial that the ease of point-of-care testing does not lead users to utilize them for purposes other than what they were intended for or to interpret results incorrectly. For instance, glucose meters and point-of-care hemoglobin A1 tests are only meant to be used for diabetes monitoring and should not be utilized for screening or diagnosis. This needs to be understand while near patient testing.

An effective Covid-19 antibody assay has been created at AgPlus Diagnostics and work is being done on a Covid-19 antigen diagnostic. Being a recognised market leader in revolutionary Point of Care diagnostics and matching each patient's critical condition to the appropriate therapy at the appropriate time have always been the goals of our company.

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Why Do We Need Near Patient Testing?

The concept of near-patient testing is intriguing in today's context of streamlined health care with an emphasis on community-based care and one-stop clinics. Near-patient testing (also known as point-of-care testing) is described as an inquiry performed during the consultation with quick availability of data to make immediate and informed decisions about patient treatment, and it has received a lot of attention in the previous 15 years.

Near-patient testing has the potential to enhance outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness in primary care by allowing for early diagnosis, communication of diagnosis, and disease treatment. Other potential benefits include eliminating health disparities by making services available to underserved socioeconomic or ethnic groups. In general care, simple urine testing strips and blood glucose measures are standard, but more complex near-patient testing has been limited to anticoagulant monitoring, diabetes management, and C-reactive protein and Helicobacter pylori testing.

Advantages of near-patient testing

The relative immediacy of results is one of the primary advantages of NPT over laboratory testing. Some clinicians believe that this will allow them to initiate treatment more rapidly and reduce the patient's wait time. It may help lower the patient's frequency of outpatient appointments and clinic visits.

Several NPT devices require very little specimen preparation or collection (in some cases using a finger prick specimen of blood). Furthermore, the analysis time is frequently relatively short, and by definition, the equipment is close to the patient, reducing specimen and report transfer time.

Technology advances and ease of use of NPT

The recent increase in NPT is due in part to technological advancements in the design of analyzers. With the introduction of microchips, computerization, and miniaturization, it has become easier to bring analyses closer to the patient and perform them by less educated professionals or by the patients themselves. Biosensors, electrodes, and dry and solid phase chemistry reagents are all used in current NPT devices. Solid phase chemistry incorporates sample separation devices and analytical reagents into a single assay element, and reaction chemistries are frequently followed by reflectance photometry or front-face fluorescence. 

These can enable small sample and reagent amounts, short assay response times, the convenience of use and disposal of old reagents, simultaneous measurement of many analytes, and possibly less technical skill. This improved tech helps in point-of-care blood testing.

Cost-effective

Lowered turnaround time may result in lower total costs if illness episodes are curtailed and transportation costs, such as courier fees, are reduced. However, NPT may be more expensive than central laboratory testing on a direct charge basis, including capital costs, due to test duplication and the economies of scale that occur from central laboratory testing. When commencing on NPT, reagent and machine expenses, quality control material costs, maintenance costs, report forms and results storage costs, and training costs may all need to be considered. Labour expenses are more difficult to evaluate in NPT, but may include nursing staff; however, this must be balanced against potential savings from on-call or out-of-hours laboratory staff costs.

If near-patient testing is to be introduced in primary care, program quality assurance will be a critical suggestion. This will entail both internal and external quality control. To reduce medical errors, guidelines also urge quality assurance of near-patient testing, as well as a framework for continuous quality improvement. The guidelines cover quality assurance, the accreditation procedure for healthcare professionals, and a buyer's guide to POC testing devices.

Beyond patient pleasure, near-patient testing provides a variety of potential benefits, however, its full integration and implementation potential have yet to be realised. To assess benefits in difficult outcomes and cost-effectiveness, rigorous evaluations of transferring this technology into primary care are still required.

We are excited to announce the launch of The Agilis Reader, which will complement our tried-and-true sensitive assay production service. This combination meets market demand for a Point of Care test that is rapid, extremely sensitive, and completely quantitative for use in a wide range of clinical and non-clinical applications.

The new AgPlus Diagnostic platform will be able to address a wide range of challenges faced by the healthcare industries for near-patient testing. 

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Gold Assay: What You Should Know

Gold was one of the first metals found, and its study and application date back at least several thousand years. The first data on colloidal gold can be found in treatises written by Chinese, Arabian, and Indian scholars who obtained colloidal gold as early as the fifth and fourth centuries BC. They used it medicinally (Chinese "golden solution" and Indian "liquid gold"), among other things. Colloidal gold was investigated and employed in alchemist laboratories throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. 

The medicinal benefits of gold quintessence — "Quinta essentia auri" — which he obtained by reducing gold chloride with vegetable extracts in alcohols or oils — were described by Paracelsus. He employed the "potable gold" to treat a variety of mental illnesses as well as syphilis. Giovanni Andrea, a contemporary, employed "aurum potabile" as a remedy for patients suffering from leprosy, plague, epilepsy, and diarrhea. In 1583, Louis XIII of France's doctor, alchemist David de Planis-Campy, proposed his "longevity elixir," a colloidal solution of gold in water. With medical advancement, gold assays became an integral part of and helped medics to treat patients better. 

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have a long history in chemistry, reaching back to ancient Rome when they were used to decorate glasses. The contemporary age of AuNP production started over 150 years ago with the research of Michael Faraday, who was probably the first to notice that colloid gold solutions differed from bulk gold in their characteristics. Over the last half-century, reliable and high-yielding procedures for the creation of AuNPs, such as those with spheric and non-spherical forms, have been established.

The eventually results in AuNPs have special features, such as size- and contour optical and electronic characteristics, a large surface area to volume ratio, and coatings that can be easily changed with linkers containing functional groups that have an affinity for gold surfaces, such as thiols, phosphines, and amines. Additional moieties like oligonucleotides, proteins, and antibodies can be employed to give even more functionality by employing these functional groups to attach the ligands. The realisation of such gold nanoconjugates has permitted a wide range of investigations, including programmed material assembly and crystallisation, nanoparticle arrangement in dimers and trimers onto DNA templates, bioelectronics, and detecting approaches. The use of gold nanoconjugates for detection and diagnostics has previously been discussed.

Gold's medical advantages have been claimed for thousands of years. Gold assays were employed by many ancient cultures, including those in India and Egypt. Gold was first used to treat diseases such as smallpox, skin ulcers, and measles in China. In Japan, thin gold foils inserted in tea, sake, and food are thought to be helpful to health.

Aside from the apparent usage of gold alloys in dental restorations, gold has a variety of direct applications in medical devices. As with dental applications, these are related to gold's superior biocompatibility. Pacemaker wires and gold-plated stents used in the treatment of heart disease are examples of applications. Stents made of gold have been used to assist weak blood arteries. Many surgeons prefer gold-plated stents because they are easier to see under an X-ray. 

Gold also has a strong resistance to bacterial colonisation, making it the material of choice for implants that are susceptible to infection. Gold has a long tradition of use in this application and is considered a very valuable metal in the microsurgery of the ear.

The ideal raw material for the gold assay is a gold colloid. A fast test is a low-cost, disposable membrane-based approach for detecting the presence of an analyte in a liquid sample. Rapid testing has clinical applications (fertility tests, tumour markers, toxicity, allergies), agricultural applications (food safety, plant and crop diseases), and environmental applications (biological and environmental contamination).

We are quite proud of our strong contract manufacturing skills, which enable us to provide our customers with cost-effective POC testing devices. We custom-make tests, including gold assays, on an OEM basis, which means we deliver high-quality items under our clients' brands. The new AgPlus Diagnostic platform will be able to meet a wide range of near-patient testing difficulties posed by the healthcare industry.

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AgPlus Diagnostics provide precise and affordable medical services globally. It includes services such as point-of-care testing, rapid diagnosis testing, near-patient testing, and others. 

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AgPlus Diagnostics provide precise and affordable medical services globally. It includes services such as point-of-care test, multiplex test, near-patient test, and others.

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AgPlus Diagnostics offers economical services that can help you to have a competitive edge in the market. Its services include gold assay development, providing point-of-care devices, quantitative test development, and others.

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Desire to Receive More Accurate Treatment?

The terms "sensitivity" and "specificity" may be used in the context of medical research and health care to refer to the value of testing for conditions as well as confidence in results. Learn what these words mean and how to use them to choose the right tests and interpret the findings. 

The capacity of a test to distinguish between the target condition and the health condition is known as diagnostic accuracy. Measures of diagnostic accuracy including sensitivity and specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, the area under the ROC curve, Youden's index, and diagnostic odds ratio can be used to quantify this discriminative capacity. Different diagnostic accuracy metrics are related to various parts of the sensitive assay. Some are used to evaluate the test's discriminative property, while others are used to evaluate its predictive power. Measures of diagnostic accuracy are not constant indicators of a test's performance; some are very responsive to the prevalence of a condition, while others are responsive to its range and definition. Additionally, diagnostic accuracy measurements are highly design-sensitive.

Not all tests are helpful in the diagnosis of diseases. Unfortunately, the expenditures of endless testing cannot be supported by modern healthcare. Based on specific risk factors, a healthcare professional must carefully choose the test that is the most suited for the patient. By picking the incorrect test, you run the risk of being ineffective, wasting time and money, or even getting a false positive, which would indicate the presence of a disease when it isn't. Let's think about how these testing factors of a sensitive test affect the test that is selected and how the findings are interpreted.

An ideal diagnostic process could distinguish between those who have an illness and those who don't. The disease is always indicated by values of a perfect test that are higher than the cut-off, whereas the disease is always excluded by values that are lower than the cut-off. Unfortunately, there aren't any ideal tests like that in the actual world, therefore diagnostic processes can only partially tell apart between patients with and without the disease. Since patients without disease might occasionally have increased readings, values above the cut-off are not always suggestive of disease. False positive values are such high values of an important parameter (FP). On the other hand, patients without sickness are more likely to have readings below the cut-off. However, some disease-affected individuals may also have them. These are erroneous negative values (FN). 

Scientists working on medical research aim to comprehend how well their new diagnostic test identifies the intended ailment or condition. In people who are seriously ill, a certain sensitive test could not detect a disease frequently enough. Others could wrongly claim that a healthy person has an illness. Healthcare practitioners analyze the advantages and disadvantages of tests. They make an effort to steer clear of decisions that might result in improper care. For instance, when treating somebody with cancer, it may be crucial to have a sample of tissue that assists in determining the features of the tumor to employ the appropriate chemotherapy in addition to an image that signals the presence of the tumor. It would be unacceptable to begin a treatment that might not even be necessary based only on a single test that is inaccurate in detecting the existence of cancer. Multiple tests can be performed to boost the certainty of a diagnosis in cases where one test isn't entirely reliable. 

We are pleased to announce the release of the Agilis Reader to complement our tried-and-true sensitive assay creation service. This pairing satisfies the market demand for a point-of-care test that is quick, incredibly sensitive, and fully quantitative for use in a variety of clinical and non-clinical applications. The new AgPlus Diagnostics platform will be able to tackle a variety of difficulties encountered by the healthcare sector. 

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How Does Rapid Diagnosis Test Change the Future of Patient Care?

The potential for novel rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to enhance clinical care and boost patient outcomes is enormous. In this study, we examine the prevalent usage patterns globally, pinpoint obstacles to successful implementation, and offer best practice recommendations for implementing new tests. 

The Rapid Diagnostics and Biomarkers Working Group of the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC) developed an electronic survey examining the accessibility, makeup, and significance of RDTs globally. In December 2019, it was sent to ISAC members. According to the UN human development index, results were compiled (HDI). 31 different countries provided 81 responses. The 24/7 accessibility of any exam was reported by 84% of the institutions. 

Rapid diagnosis tests, commonly referred to as RDTs or rapid diagnostic tests, are simple-to-use procedures that offer prompt answers, typically in 20 minutes or less. Rapid tests are performed and give results at the point of treatment, unlike the majority of regular tests, which must be forwarded to a lab. The location where you receive care is the site of care. It may be in a hospital, your doctor's office, or even your home. 

Many infectious disorders require prompt treatment. A diagnostic that enables early-directed therapy improves patient outcomes and encourages responsible antibiotic management. A benefit that has been particularly highlighted with the development of SARS-CoV-2 is that early detection of highly transmissible diseases enables healthcare providers in high-income nations to quickly segregate patients and prevent the spread of sickness.

Rapid diagnosis tests' ability to diagnose and treat infectious disease syndromes effectively depends on their ability to work with clinical practice, including antimicrobial stewardship programs, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of their particular methodology (ASPs). For blood culture tests, respiratory problems, and clinic point of care, we describe diagnostic techniques and technology that enable quick diagnosis and AST along with current antibiotic stewardship practices in this study. 

These tests are different from molecular tests like RT-PCR because they use straightforward immunochromatography techniques, also known as lateral flow assays, to identify the presence of viral proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, the virus's most prevalent protein, is the focus of rapid antigen assays. They differ from serology tests, which check for antibodies made by the host in response to the infection, in that they access points for the presence of viral proteins. Rapid antigen testing therefore only evaluates acute infection; they do not evaluate past infection or immunization response.

Multiplex checking of diseases is not intended to replace normal COVID-19 testing, rather it is used in specific instances as indicated by a doctor. Multiplex testing enables healthcare professionals to test for numerous viruses at once and offer a more thorough clinical diagnosis for some patients, such as those who present with various symptoms connected to respiratory viral infections. 

Additionally, multiplex tests support clinical laboratories in preserving crucial testing resources including pipettes, swabs, and reagents, all of which are still in great demand. Multiplex testing lowers the need for single-use testing and the consumption of essential testing supplies while providing accurate and thorough results to both patients and physicians. Multiplex testing is essential for simplifying test orders for patients, providers, and public health authorities as a result of the ongoing high demand for COVID-19 tests and supply chain restrictions.

The nation's capacity to monitor and halt the spread of this virus and other infectious diseases depends critically on the ongoing development and evolution of cutting-edge diagnostic techniques that can cater to the various medical requirements of patients across the nation. The most recent instance of the industry addressing two significant public health problems, COVID-19 and influenza, is the recent release of multiplex testing. 

If you are looking for effective rapid tests with better accuracy and precision, then Ag+ Diagnostics is your top solution for all kinds of PoC. The Agilis Reader is a quantitative diagnostic reader that can be used in a variety of market applications. When paired with an AgPlus-developed assay, the technology enables faster and more accurate diagnosis, opening the door to truly individualized care. It is a portable diagnostic solution that is comparable to any fixed laboratory analyzer.  

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Detection of biomarkers in a rapid and highly sensitive manner

New point-of-care diagnostic devices are being developed and innovated to match the rapid progress in the field of medical science. As the biological species are evolving day by day due to various natural factors, it has given birth to new diseases. Some are critical and incurable but some can be treated with early detection. So, to help patients with such diseases, it’s important to have easy access to the biomarkers that can help in the identification and diagnosis of the disease.

 As a disease attacks a person, physiological transmissions that are responsible to determine the biological state of the person change in response to the status of the disease. A biomarker is one such characteristic that is mainly calculated and evaluated to check the normality of normal body activities. Any pharmacologic response, pathogenic processes, therapeutic assessment or any indicator that measures the risk or the sign of any disease can be a biomarker.

 Biomarkers play an important part in the detection, treatment and follow-up of diseases. It is necessary to remember that diseases treated in the early-stage results have the highest probability of success. But, due to some technical deficiencies in current technologies to make biomarkers, the potential of biomarkers is not completely explored. Therefore, the developments in technologies that can make accurate detection of diseases possible at an early stage with experimental and simple protocols are highly recognized. With these new advancements, it also became important to test the progress through several sensitive assays. So, there should not be any error that could result in mixed results for the consumers and can endanger their life.

 The main reason to choose biomarkers is to diagnose illness and to make reliable and reasonable devices for the easy treatment of diseases and disorders. By including biomarker detection technologies, medics can pick more accurate care for their patients. Adding on, it can also help doctors to monitor the diseases’ symptoms, progression, and recurrence and design the treatment in that manner. When it comes to the sensitive test, it becomes equally important to nullify all the misconceptions about specificity, sensitivity, and predictive values.

 Diagnostic tests depend on a few quantitative biomarkers. The two important metrics used to understand the quality of a test are test sensitivity and specificity. The readings of disease status are based upon the test results and are also helpful in research for medics and public health management.

Sensitivity is the smallest value of analyte in the assay buffer where the assay can analytically differentiate from the background. It is a computed value that is decided by comparing readings from many samples of low standard concentrations and zero concentrations. These tests include ΔAbs/Δ concentration to measure the sensitive values. Sometimes, assay sensitivity can be higher than the smallest standard point. They are widely used in the development and invention of medicines to cure diseases and find the suitable cure to eliminate them. Sensitivity can be defined as an ability to authorise an individual with any positive disease. The specification of any test is its capability to identify an individual who does not have a negative disease.

 If you're looking for a trusted and proven sensitive assay service, then AgPlus diagnostics is the best choice. We have worked with our experienced sensitive assay development team, and we take pride in launching the Agilis Reader. This intelligent pairing fills the gap in the market requirement for an ultra-sensitive, rapid and fully quantitative point of care test to be used for a wide range of non-clinical and clinical applications. Feel free to contact AgPlus Diagnostics for any kind of point of care blood testing technologies.

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What are the challenges to expanding rapid tests to counter COVID-19?

After the demonic rise of SARS Covid-19, the world took some time to understand the pandemic and take action accordingly. As this virus has brought the world to its knees with its ability to mutate quickly, it has become difficult for virologists and doctors to find effective test measures to detect the virus and ways to prevent its infection. Medics took some time to react and understand the situations and they came up with lots of research and vaccines to minimize the risk. 

As not to confuse respiratory diseases with the COVID-19, several tests have been made mandatory to detect the virus and act accordingly. The government also set up multiple RAT booths around hotspots and 24X7 assistance was provided. This helped our medics to cut the outbreak and put some restrictions on the virus growth. Few of these tests were already in practice to detect other respiratory diseases but with the covid outbreak, they became quite popular among the masses. Previously rapid diagnostic tests were used for preliminary or emergency medical screening or in medical facilities with limited resources. Due to the sudden outbreak, it took a while for governments as well to set up effective medical facilities and to make the population aware of what was going on and what was about to come. 

Multiplex tests were done to detect multiple viruses with the help of a single test and to provide more comprehensive clinical reports. These tests played a key role helpful in differentiating the covid infection from SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B, RSV, and other respiratory viruses that had similar symptoms. As these tests were very helpful in identifying the other infections while on the other hand, they helped limit the consumption of single-use medical aids like pipettes, swabs, and clinical reagents which were in high demand during the pandemic. 

A major difference between rapid diagnosis tests and RT-PCR is the fluctuation in the analytic sensitivity of the assay. As these tests were proven to be life saviors during the pandemic, several representatives from the medical fraternity raised their eyebrows at the usage of these tests. 

Two major factors that were bothering the doctors are:

1. Accuracy: These rapid tests are 30%-40% less accurate when compared to RT_PCR tests. These tests were close to accuracy yet they lacked the assurance, which was equally hazardous during the pandemic. It was also observed that the rapid tests were effective within the first five days of occurring symptoms as compared to no symptoms. 

2. Availability: These kits were highly helpful during the time of the pandemic, but as the world was panicking seeing the aftermaths of it, it motivated them to hoard the supplies, which they did with the test kits as well. Due to such scenarios, it was quite difficult to make the availability in large numbers, which can be demotivating for the ones who are actually in need of it. Whereas the molecular test kits were available with the hospitals and testing booths as being an authority, they were more likely to get the supplies as compared to small retail medical shops.

From the above excerpt, we can say that it’s better to opt for full-fledged rapid diagnosis tests at certified health care centers in the presence of professional doctors and nurses so that there should not be any doubt or negligence and the treatment can be started as soon as the symptoms are detected. AgPlus is one such innovative POC diagnostic solution that provides cutting-edge Medtech in understanding the patient’s medical condition and helps doctors and nurses in effective treatment without wasting time. AgPlus has been trusted and certified by doctors and medics across the UK.

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An assay is a method used to measure the quantity or amount of an element to be analyzed. In the clinical setting, an assay may be used to identify or confirm a disease or other medical condition. At AgPlus Diagnostics, a silver assay is used in various fields of science to quantify the concentration of an analyte with respect to a known control.

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In addition to handling numerous diagnostic products, AgPlus Diagnostics uses sensitive assay for better treatment of patients. This device was designed to simplify the use of the diagnostic process by optimising operator interaction. Fast results can be obtained through its easy integration.

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The development of point-of-care diagnostic tests for tuberculosis

The most common infectious killer in the world is still tuberculosis (TB). Less than two-thirds of the 10.4 million new cases of TB estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016 were diagnosed or reported to health authorities.

Importance of Point-of-Care Testing Devices in Battling TB Without new TB-fighting weapons, the End TB strategy's objectives—to reduce tuberculosis (TB) incidence by 90% and TB death by 95% by 2035—will not be accomplished. The most decentralised levels of care, where patients first interact with the healthcare system, as well as the community, are intended to receive improved point-of-care testing.

To prevent patient loss-to-follow-up, these tests should be able to be run on a sample that is simple to obtain and quickly yield results. This will allow for a short treatment turnaround time of a few minutes or hours (within a single clinical session).

Creating assays that are extremely sensitive and precise for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) and medication resistance is just one aspect of improved testing. It also offers quick, inexpensive testing that can be used at the most localised level by healthcare professionals, even with little training. The diagnostic process must be viewed holistically by programmes, which is important.

Problems with POCT in TB Diagnosis Although better tests that can be performed in hospitals with less laboratory infrastructure are required, there is a greater need for tests that can be used in remote TB institutions at the local level. It is crucial to identify cases in these decentralised settings, which frequently coincide with regions with less convenient access to healthcare.

The majority of patients do not begin therapy on the day that a specimen is provided. The scientific community has come to a reasonable agreement that TB-POC tests need to be deployable at the most decentralised levels of care, including in the community and at the point where patients first interact with the healthcare system.

POC tests also need to prompt an immediate adjustment in patient care. A POC should therefore be able to be carried out on a readily available sample and deliver results quickly, allowing for treatment periods of hours and preventing patient loss-to-follow-up as a result.

Therefore, we only took into account tests that could possibly satisfy these requirements, whether they were conducted in metropolitan clinics with adequate resources or rural settings.

Ideal Properties of a POC Assay for Tuberculosis Diagnosis:

•  It has the ability to identify pulmonary or extra pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)

•  The children and the adults, as well as TB cases with a possible HIV infection or not, can use it.

•  It can be used for a number of readily available bodily samples.

•  It has test development should not be time consuming i.e. the assay could be prepared comparatively faster, even with lesser training.

•  Employed by healthcare professionals with little training

•  Employed in nearby healthcare facilities or public areas

•  It may be used in a wide range of humidity and temperature conditions.

•  Produces outcomes in less than 20 minutes

•  No or little upkeep is necessary

• Costs comparatively lesser than other affordable testing options

• Extreme sensitivity

• Sensitivity for pulmonary and extra pulmonary TB comparable to Xpert MTB/RIF

• If a triage test is intended to be used (95% compared to culture)

• Extreme specificity

Meet the Revolution Quantitative test for TB are a crucial requirement of the medical industry. It is the key device in battling the infectious and deadly disease. With a device like Agilis Reader, the fight can be made one-sided. It is a point-of-care testing device, developed by the expert researchers and engineers at AG Plus Diagnostics.

The device has proven its worth in clinical trials, sensitive lab testing, near-patient testing and similar medical industry applications. And now, it’s ready to deliver quality near-patient testing solutions. After investing a significant amount of time and resources in developing Agilis Reader, AG Plus Diagnostics is now looking forward to making the device a hero in battling diseases like TB.

To know more about this near-patient testing device, you can get in touch with experts by visiting their website and they’ll address your every single query.

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Multiplexed-point-of-care-testing: Importance, Approach & Technology

Multiplex testing: What is it?

Multiplexed Point-of-Care Testing (xPOCT), also known as a multiplex test, is the simultaneous on-site assessment of numerous chemicals from a single sample. The intelligent coupling of a high-performing device with minimal system complexity is the main goal for the development of systems for the multiplex test. This ensures that the on-site tests are carried out quickly by non-experts and that the results match those from clinical settings and centralised laboratories.

Importance of Multiplexed Points of Care Testing (xPOCT)

For an illness to be effectively treated, an early, precise and multiplex test needs to be developed. This test should be able to prepare multiple assays and provide faster results, particularly at the point of care, where a prompt treatment choice is most necessary. Clinical evidence based on a single biomarker, however, is insufficient to properly diagnose a disease or to track its course through treatment. In light of this, multiplexing has grown in significance for point-of-care testing over the past ten years.

Ideal Qualities or Characteristics of Multiplexed Point of Care Testing Device:

Diagnostic instruments must meticulously carry out the following duties to adequately meet the requirements for xPOCT:

1. Little sample consumption or the availability of non-invasive (easily accessible) samples like urine, sweat, and breath condensate;

2. System operation that is straightforward or automatic and requires little user involvement;

3. Quick turnaround times (between 10 minutes and 2 hours), which enable urgent treatment;

4. Extended shelf life and storage of reagents;

5. Quantitative data that are accurate and in line with clinical and core laboratory findings;

6. Readout devices that are inexpensive and portable and come with disposable test strips or cartridges;

7. In the developing world, equipment-free or mobile phone-based systems are strongly desired;

8. The xPOCT gadget should also have the ability to evaluate multiple chemicals at once, such as RNAs, metabolites, proteins, exosomes, and cells.

Current xPOCT Approach The method primarily tries to employ a single or small set of biological samples to split or separate them so that they can be read by several types of assays. multi-analyte detection or Multiplex-Testing is often performed using three primary approaches.

1. Regional separation using different electrode or channel network parts

2. Geographical separation of detecting sites using different wells or places

3. Use of several labels, including enzymes, redox compounds, beads, and colours.

4.Other point of care lab testing directly identify biomarkers using mass spectrometry (MS). But the majority of these technology-based devices are cumbersome and challenging to use. Optical and electrochemical detection techniques are mostly used for the signal readout.

Modern xPOCT Technologies

The following categories of diagnostic tools are now in use for multiplex tests:

• Paper-based systems: Lateral flow assays, such as those used in pregnancy tests, use samples that react with coloured particles and call for the device to read the colour signature.

• Array-based systems - Instruments that contain fluorescent molecules or electrodes and are sensitive to particular analytes

• Bead-based systems - Systems, such as bead-based flow cytometry, use beads as a medium for the analytes to bind precisely to before those complexes are then filtered or separated by size or colour.

Meet the Modern POCT: Agilis Reader The world of technology is improving every minute and to meet the pacing requirements of the modern medical industry, AG Plus Diagnostics has developed a breakthrough device, Agilis Reader. Due to the enhanced support that it offers, the device is easy to use. . it is proving to be a big help in the pioneering medical world.

This device provides rapid diagnosis test solutions for multi-purpose testing. Other than hospitals, other medical facilities are also using this point-of-care testing device, such as:

-          Emergency care facilities

-          Surgical centres

-          Imaging centres

-          Outpatient clinics

-          Emergency medical services

-          Long-term care centres

-          Cardiology centres and more.

To explore more about this technology, visit the organisation’s website and see how this point-of-care testing device may change the medical industry forever.

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With a Point of Care blood Testing, you can test anywhere and anytime for rapid diseases with quick results. It's also known as "near-patient testing." At AgPlus Diagnostics, patients get quick results without the need for laboratories.

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Use of point-of-care tests in clinical trials: Present & Future

Healthcare experts are trying their best to provide patients with rapid and quality treatment. Quick and accurate test findings can assist a health practitioner to deliver the best possible patient care and make better and more effective decisions with their patient. For this, many innovative point-of-care gadgets take advantage of technological advancements to improve care quality. Point-of-care blood testing , also known as near-patient testing or rapid diagnostic test, entails performing a test in the presence of the patient with a device or test kit rather than sending a sample to a laboratory.

How does point-of-care testing work?

Medical testing performed at the point of care is known as point-of-care testing or POC testing. The patient's location is referred to as POC in this context. Sending all samples and specimens to medical laboratories for processing involves a protracted wait for results. This could lead to time being wasted in critical situations or patients being treated without having all of the information they need. Instead, POC testing makes getting reliable and rapid results much easier. Now that these results are available, medical providers can make more informed decisions about a patient's treatment and care.

Clinical trials and research with POCT

Researchers have been incorporating more powerful POCT devices into clinical studies in recent years to provide data faster than local facilities. Participants in clinical studies are frequently required to have specified features. Pregnancy, hyperglycaemia, oxygen concentration, and flu tests are all instances of clinical trial POCT. Participants' status can be verified by researchers at the clinical study site. Participants who do not meet the study's standards might be ruled out via POCT screening. Rapid CBC testing is one of the most common uses of POCT testing in clinical trials. In just a few minutes, researchers can get quantitative CBC data. Rapid diagnosis testing is used in clinical trials for the following reasons:

1. Detecting anaemia in participants: Red blood cell, haemoglobin, and haematocrit levels are usually included in a fast CBC test. If any of these are low, it could mean that someone has anaemia. A rapid CBC test can swiftly confirm the existence of anaemia in clinical studies involving anaemic patients.

2. Detecting blood abnormalities in participants: Other blood abnormalities can also be detected promptly utilising a rapid CBC test, just like anaemia. Autoimmune disorders, bone marrow disorders, leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloproliferative neoplasms, myelodysplastic syndrome, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and cancer that have spread to the bone marrow are among conditions that can be identified.

3. Infections screening: A rapid CBC test can swiftly identify people with infections in clinical trials to discover better treatments for immunological diseases (high or low WBC count). This means that infected people can get life-saving therapy right away. Researchers can pinpoint the fundamental cause of diseases faster if they discover them quickly.

4. Observing patients' reactions to medications provided during clinical trials:Patients' reactions to clinical trial medications can be monitored by rapid diagnostic testing after therapy. Researchers can swiftly discontinue therapy if patients are experiencing severe side effects thanks to periodic CBC testing. Frequent blood testing reveals patients who are not adhering to their treatment plan. As a result, it can help enhance patient’s adherence to their medical treatment.

Here’s how POCT has been used for clinical trials and research during the past few years:

1. In a single visit, screen and enrol: Researchers used a POCT device to test people for influenza, acquire quick findings, and enrol them right away in an influenza study. Allowing people to go home and wait for lab results before enrolling would have been the option. It's possible that some of these patients were ill and did not return for enrolment. 2. Lower the number of screen failures: Researchers employed a POCT device to pre-screen patients in a global chronic renal disease clinical trial. They looked at urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (UACR). 3. Get quicker results: Scientists employed a POCT device to test C - reactive protein in rare disease research (CRP). They were able to identify patients who were experiencing "heart-attack-like" symptoms thanks to the test.

Point of Care Blood Testing is becoming the modern revolution. As a result, the best POCT devices such as Agilis Reader have been finding their valued presence in clinical trials, sensitive lab testing, near-patient testing and similar medical industry applications. AgPlus Diagnostics has played a significant role in this development with its Agilis Reader, a revolutionary device. If you are looking forward to investing in a POCT device, there’s a no better option. To know more about this near-patient testing device, you can get in touch with experts at AgPlus Diagnostics and they’ll address your every single query.