Enzygnost Anti-HCV 4.0 Assay helps reduce the number of false-positive results.
Tarrytown, N.Y., June 21, 2012 – Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics announces the launch of its Enzygnost Anti-HCV 4.0 Assay¹, a hepatitis C laboratory test with high sensitivity and specificity that completes the company’s integrated infectious disease screening panel for blood banks. Now, blood banks of any size can turn to Siemens as a single-source supplier for all of their Enzygnost low, mid and high-volume blood screening testing needs.
Sensitive, specific and efficient infectious disease screening of blood donors ensures the safety of blood products and supports the high quality standards in transfusion medicine. In larger blood banks, where up to 3,500 donations are often analyzed in a typical day, having access to fast, accurate testing solutions is paramount. The sensitivity and specificity of the new Enzygnost Anti-HCV 4.0 assay, which can produce a test result 30 minutes to one hour faster than competing HCV assays in the microtitration plate (MTP) format², helps reduce the number of false-positive results obtained to fewer than one in 1,000 anti-HCV-negative sera. Combined, the assay’s sensitivity and specificity supports several important benefits, including fewer blood donor deferrals, more donations added to the blood supply, fewer costly reruns and PCR/NAAT testing³ and earlier treatment options for donors who test positive, improving patient care.
Blood banks gain additional benefits when they run the Enzygnost Anti-HCV 4.0 Assay together with other Siemens Enzygnost screening tests (e.g. HIV, syphilis) on one of a full range of Siemens BEP® and Quadriga® infectious disease diagnostics systems. Because all Enzygnost assays follow the same procedures and use the same supplementary reagent components (e.g., washing solution, chromogen solution), fewer products are required onboard the analyzer, thereby simplifying system handling, reducing training efforts and, the potential for human error. Plus, the Anti-HCV 4.0 Assay kit, like all tests in Siemens’ Enzygnost panel, comes complete with a bar code labeling system, making identification of all MTPs, conjugates, substrates and controls automatic, accurate and easy.
The Enzygnost Anti-HCV 4.0 assay reflects Siemens’ continuing goal of innovation leadership: part of the recently launched Siemens Agenda 2013 program, an initiative to further strengthen the Healthcare Sector's innovative power and competitiveness.
For more information about the Enzygnost Anti-HCV 4.0, please visit: www.siemens.com/hcv
- Not available for sale in the U.S
- Based on available Instructions for Use (IFU) documents for the Siemens Enzygnost Anti-HCV 4.0 Assay, ORTHO® HCV 3.0 ELISA Test System with Enhanced SAVe, and Bio-Rad Monolisa™ Anti-HCV PLUS Version 2
- Where not mandated by facility protocol or law
Launched in November 2011, Agenda 2013 is a global initiative to further strengthen the innovative power and competitiveness of the Siemens Healthcare Sector. Specific measures will be implemented in four fields of action: Innovation, Competitiveness, Regional Footprint, and People Development.
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 51,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2011 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 12.5 billion euros and profit of around 1.3 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.
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Gian Sachdev
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