EKF Diagnostics Highlights Assay for Diabetes Patient Monitoring

Global in vitro diagnostics company EKF Diagnostics (Penarth, Cardiff, UK) showcased its liquid, enzymatic test for glycated albumin (GA) at the 71st AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo held on August 4-8, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, USA. The GA test, which was recently FDA cleared for sales in the U.S, is used for intermediate term monitoring of glycemic control in diabetes patients. EKF is the exclusive distributor of the Lucica Glycated Albumin-L test manufactured by Asahi-Kasei Pharma Corporation of Japan.

The Lucica Glycated Albumin-L test is intended for use for the quantitative measurement of GA in human serum on compatible clinical chemistry analyzers with open channel capability. It specifically measures both glycated albumin (enzymatic) and total albumin (BCP) in separate reactions. Results are expressed as a ratio (%) of glycated albumin to total albumin, thus minimizing differences in protein concentrations between patients. Visitors to EKF Diagnostics’ booth also had the opportunity to meet the inventor of this enzymatic method for GA, Takuji Kohzuma Ph.D, Chief Researcher, Diagnostics and Clinical Development for Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation. For the development of this methodology, Dr. Kohzuma was awarded the ‘Prize of Technology’ by the Japanese Society of Clinical Chemistry in 2005. The Lucica GA has been one of the most widely used and published enzymatic GA methods in the world.


At AACC 2019, EKF Diagnostics also showcased some of its other clinical chemistry focused products, including another key assay in its portfolio, the Beta-Hydroxybutyrate LiquiColor Assay (B-HB). The LiquiColor B-HB test features liquid, ‘ready to use’ reagents and is intended for the quantitative measurement of B-HB with serum or plasma on compatible clinical chemistry analyzers with open channel capability.

EKF Diagnostics’ central laboratory and point-of-care (POC) analyzers were also on display at this year’s AACC, including the Altair 240, a fully-automated bench-top clinical chemistry analyzer, and the HemoPoint H2 POC analyzer that is designed to rapidly provide quantitative, lab quality hemoglobin and hematocrit results from a single drop of blood. At AACC 2019, EKF Diagnostics exhibited Hemo Control, a point-of-care hemoglobin analyzer designed to provide quantitative, lab quality hemoglobin results from 25 seconds, and DiaSpect Tm, the world’s fastest hemoglobin analyzer that delivers laboratory quality results in just about one second of the microcuvette being placed into the analyzer. The company also showcased Quo-Test, a fully automated desktop POC analyzer designed for easy and reliable HbA1c measurement, and Creamatocrit Plus, the first and only system dedicated to providing a fast, accurate creamatocrit measure in mother’s milk.