Axis-Shield UK launches Afinion™ – a new concept in point of care testing

Axis-Shield UK has launched the Afinion™ multi-parameter desktop analyser for use at point of care. This novel instrument - a winner at the Medical Design Excellence Awards 2006 - enables immediate rapid testing, regardless of sample type. Unlike many other systems currently on the market, Afinion is a genuine multi-assay analyser, offering a wide range of laboratory-quality tests on a single point of care system. Afinion is well suited to multi-user environments, such as community clinics, where test results are required quickly and a laboratory service may not be available. The instrument is extremely easy to operate - users simply insert a cartridge and follow the prompts on the colour touch screen display. Minimal maintenance is required.

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 such as homocysteine will be introduced later.

HbA1c is used for monitoring of diabetes and is the parameter of choice for long-term glycaemic (blood sugar) control. Afinion will provide results automatically in just three minutes, offering a real time saving to the busy healthcare professional. CRP is used as a diagnostic tool for differentiation between 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.