POC Myocardial Infarction Test Delivers Results in 17 Minutes

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 10 Apr 2024

Image: The PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II high-sensitivity troponin assay has been developed for the PATHFAST Biomarker Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Polymedco)

Chest pain is the second leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits by adults in the United States, generating over 7 million visits annually. In the event of a suspected heart attack, physicians rely on the troponin blood test to guide their diagnosis. The quick delivery of troponin test results is crucial, enabling physicians to diagnose and treat patients swiftly. Traditionally, this testing has been confined to hospital central laboratories, with results taking an hour or more to be communicated to the physician. Now, a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI-II) test approved for point-of-care (POC) use in the United States allows EDs and other acute care settings to achieve quicker and more precise diagnostic and treatment decisions than previously possible.

Polymedco’s (Cortlandt Manor, NY, USA) PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II has become the first and only hs-cTnI-II test to be cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for POC use in the United States. With FDA clearance, the test is now available in the U.S. for application on Polymedco's PATHFAST analyzer using both whole blood and plasma patient samples. This breakthrough high-sensitivity troponin assay developed for the PATHFAST Biomarker Analyzer delivers results up to three times faster than core lab testing. The results of the PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II test should be used in conjunction with other diagnostic information, including electrocardiogram (ECG), clinical observations, and patient symptoms, to support heart attack diagnoses.

The PATHFAST POC platform provides a broad spectrum of tests that offer central lab-caliber diagnostic outcomes directly to clinicians and patients, thereby saving crucial time when assessing patients with conditions that may be life-threatening. This platform empowers critical care decisions through an extensive array of lab tests for patients potentially suffering from acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and various inflammatory conditions. The PATHFAST platform can provide results in just 17 minutes at the POC, significantly enhancing the efficiency of care in urgent situations. By delivering lab-quality results within minutes at the POC, PATHFAST ensures that EDs and other acute care facilities can make prompt and accurate diagnostic and treatment choices.

"Polymedco is committed to providing the most accurate and efficient diagnostics to help overburdened Emergency Departments more effectively and efficiently respond and treat patients presenting with symptoms of a heart attack," said Polymedco CEO Doug White. “Having the diagnostic accuracy of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin at the point-of-care represents a significant advancement in cardiac care in the U.S.”

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