We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

Rapid Urine Test Detects Early Kidney Injury

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 05 May 2014
Image: The NephroCheck Test cartridge and Astute140 Meter (Photo courtesy of Astute Medical).
Image: The NephroCheck Test cartridge and Astute140 Meter (Photo courtesy of Astute Medical).
A new test utilizes fluorescence immunoassay technology to detect and measure two biomarkers that reflect the risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI).

The NephroCheck Test measures tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7(IGFBP-7) in human urine. Both are involved in G1 cell cycle arrest during the very early phases of cellular stress, and are robust measures of risk for AKI manifesting within the following 12-24 hours. TIMP-2 is an inhibitor of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that directly suppress the proliferation of endothelial cells. IGFBP-7 is involved in the regulation of tissue availability of insulin and IGFs, and stimulates cell adhesion implicated in epithelial cell-cycle arrest.

For the test, a sample of a patient’s urine is mixed with reagents onto a single-use cartridge inserted into the proprietary Astute140 Meter. The meter employs a sandwich immunoassay technique along with fluorescence detection technology to quantitatively measure the biomarker concentrations, combining them into a single numerical test result. Multiple levels of controls (internal, external, and electronic) are used to ensure reliable and accurate results in about 20 minutes. The NephroCheck Test and Astute140 Meter are products of Astute Medical (San Diego, CA, USA), and have received the European Community CE marking of approval.

“We believe the NephroCheck Test will be able to help physicians address one of the most costly, deadly, and confounding conditions affecting intensive care hospital patients,” said Chris Hibberd, CEO of Astute Medical. “With increasing constraints on healthcare spending, innovative tools such as the NephroCheck Test will be essential to ensuring that the right resources get to the right patients at the right time.”

AKI is a significant global health hazard that strikes up to seven percent of hospitalized patients. AKI often occurs in patients that are already suffering from myriad issues such as sepsis, trauma, surgery, or being treated with nephrotoxic drugs, further complicating diagnosis, while also increasing mortality rates.

Related Links:

Astute Medical


New
Gold Member
Collection and Transport System
PurSafe Plus®
Collection and Transport System
PurSafe Plus®
New
Rapid Molecular Testing Device
FlashDetect Flash10
New
8-Channel Pipette
SAPPHIRE 20–300 µL

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The nanotechnology-based liquid biopsy test could identify cancer at its early stages (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

2-Hour Cancer Blood Test to Transform Tumor Detection

Glioblastoma and other aggressive cancers remain difficult to control largely because tumors can recur after treatment. Current diagnostic methods, such as invasive biopsies or expensive liquid biopsies,... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: New research points to protecting blood during radiation therapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments

Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: An adult fibrosarcoma case report has shown the importance of early diagnosis and targeted therapy (Photo courtesy of Sultana and Sailaja/Oncoscience)

Accurate Pathological Analysis Improves Treatment Outcomes for Adult Fibrosarcoma

Adult fibrosarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy that develops in connective tissue and often affects the limbs, trunk, or head and neck region. Diagnosis is complex because tumors can mimic... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Conceptual design of the CORAL capsule for microbial sampling in the small intestine (H. Mohammed et al., Device (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2025.100904)

Coral-Inspired Capsule Samples Hidden Bacteria from Small Intestine

The gut microbiome has been linked to conditions ranging from immune disorders to mental health, yet conventional stool tests often fail to capture bacterial populations in the small intestine.... Read more