Abbott secured a CE mark for its portable blood analyzer, which rapidly performs blood tests using two or three drops of blood. The hand-held device, which offers the largest range of blood tests on a single device, allows caregivers to make quick medical decisions at the point of care.
The i-STAT Alinity System returns results within two to 10 minutes and can run tests including blood chemistry and cardiac biomarkers, Abbott said in a statement. The device connects to healthcare systems’ networks so that providers can manage diagnostic data. It also connects to the cloud, facilitating the delivery of quality-control data, the company said.
"Whether in emergency departments, critical care settings or rural areas, i-STAT Alinity allows clinicians to make timely and informed treatment decisions that help people get back to better health,” said VP of Point of Care Diagnostics Sharon Bracken in the statement.
As more and more people access healthcare, hospitals and health systems may struggle to keep up and find efficient, cost-effective ways to offer quality care, the company said. These include diagnostic tech that doesn’t necessitate extensive training. This is where Abbott’s device comes in: In designing the i-STAT Alinity, the company looked into the challenges that providers face while carrying out day-to-day point-of-care testing.
"We spent countless hours doing on-the-ground research with doctors, nurses, lab directors, point of care coordinators and other customers from around the world," said Matt Bates, divisional vice president of research and development at Abbott’s Point of Care Diagnostics division. "We asked about their pain points and listened to what they want and need for testing. Using these customer insights, Abbott designed and built i-STAT Alinity for better access, efficiency and speed to improve clinical decision making and positively impact patients' lives."
Philips is also working on expanding the menu of tests it offers on its Minicare system, a blood analyzer with single-use, disposable cartridges for each test. It already has a Minicare test for acute coronary syndrome on the market and teamed up with Janssen in March last year to develop a test for brain disorders. In January, the Dutch company struck a deal with Banyan Biomarkers to develop a Minicare test for traumatic brain injury.