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Automated Urine Analyzer Offers Fast, Sensitive and Precise AST in Near-Patient Settings

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 26 Apr 2023

Image: PA-100 AST System (Photo courtesy of Sysmex Europe)

Image: PA-100 AST System (Photo courtesy of Sysmex Europe)

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are highly prevalent infectious diseases, impacting an estimated 150 million people worldwide. Typically, these infections are treated with antimicrobial drugs. To determine the appropriate medication, healthcare professionals must conduct bacteria identification tests and drug susceptibility tests alongside clinical findings. However, these tests often take days to complete, making it challenging to prescribe the right antimicrobial drugs during the first consultation. Consequently, this can lead to the prescription of improper medications and contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance.

The PA-100 AST System from Sysmex Europe SE (Norderstedt, Germany) is an innovative automated urine analyzer that expedites antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) at the point of care. By combining phase contrast microscopy and nanofluidics, the system generates antibiograms at the point of care. The cutting-edge nanofluidics-based technology ensures exceptional diagnostic performance. User-friendly and efficient, the PA-100 AST System can determine bacterial growth and AST in under an hour, with results conforming to EUCAST standards.

Employing lab-on-a-chip technology, the PA-100 AST System rapidly and automatically analyzes urine samples, optimizing workflow and providing results during a patient's initial visit to the physician. This breakthrough technology brings diagnostics to outpatient clinics, supporting evidence-based medication where extensive antibiotic prescriptions are common. By facilitating antibiotic prescription decisions in less than an hour, the system helps circumvent empirical treatment and curtail the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

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