Country for PR: United Kingdom
Contributor: PR Newswire Europe
Monday, May 11 2020 - 16:00
AsiaNet
Technopath Clinical Diagnostics Expands Its Portfolio of Third-party Quality Control Solutions for COVID-19 as Clinical Laboratories Globally Ramp Up Antibody Testing
NEW YORK and BALLINA, Ireland, May 11, 2020, /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/--

- Technopath is launching Multichem(R) ID-COVID-19 Quality Control Solutions 
that will reduce potential errors, and allow laboratories to release patient 
test results with confidence. 

- Multichem COVID-19 Solutions are carefully manufactured to closely mimic 
patient samples offering a clinically relevant solution irrespective of the 
antibody test or instrument system. 

- The Multichem Portfolio provides the clinical laboratory community the 
assurance of independent quality control (QC) checks and longer-term QC 
monitoring, helping laboratories detect instrument, reagent and procedural 
errors. 

Technopath Clinical Diagnostics today launched its Multichem ID-COVID-19 
Quality Control Solutions offering laboratories third-party quality control 
products enabling an independent, totally unbiased assessment of a diagnostic 
device or method for COVID-19 antibody testing. 

Triggered by a massive effort from the clinical diagnostic industry to 
introduce antibody tests worldwide, Technopath is responding to the urgent need 
from the laboratory community for third-party quality control solutions. 
Third-party is the term used to describe a laboratory control not purposefully 
designed or optimized for use with a specific test or instrument system.
"We are firmly resolute in supporting the global response to the COVID-19 
pandemic by manufacturing independent quality solutions helping diagnostic 
companies and laboratories get to optimal test performance as quickly as 
possible," said Malcolm Bell, CEO and founder of Technopath. "With some 
clinical labs processing up to 500,000 coronavirus antibody tests per month, 
the company is laser-focused on assuring the quality of patient testing, and we 
believe our third-party QC solutions will reduce potential errors allowing 
laboratories to release patient results with confidence."

To date, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) has identified 
280 antibody tests (immunoassays) in development or on the market. In the US 
alone, the FDA has granted 12 antibody test authorizations, including Abbott, 
Roche, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Cellex, Chembio Diagnostic Systems, the 
Mount Sinai Health System, Autobio and DiaSorin.

"With antibody testing accelerating across nations, clinical laboratories 
should be demanding data on validation studies, sensitivity and specificity, 
and conducting those studies in their labs," said James O. Westgard, PhD, 
longtime leader in clinical laboratory quality-control and founder of Westgard 
QC. "Quality-control is one of the most critical aspects of laboratory testing, 
and laboratories need to be adding third-party controls to their methods as 
soon as possible." 

The Importance of Independent Quality Controls

Quality Control material may be provided by the instrument manufacturer or by 
an independent control manufacturer. The control materials provided by the 
manufacturer of the instrument or reagents are often referred to as "in kit" 
controls. Third party controls are manufactured independently of the test 
system calibrators and reagents.

Often times a laboratory using an instrument manufacturer or in-kit control may 
receive a different control lot with each new reagent lot. This does not 
provide the laboratory with the benefits of long-term QC monitoring.

Third party controls with a longer shelf life allow use of the same control lot 
over multiple changes in reagents and calibrators, giving the laboratory the 
ability to detect shifts that may occur with new reagents or calibrators.

About Multichem COVID-19 (IgG, IgM and Neg) Solutions

These solutions are 3rd party quality control products that help provide an 
independent assessment of a diagnostic device or method for COVID-19 antibody 
testing. These controls are manufactured based on a human base matrix that 
helps provide a product analogous to a patient sample.

About Technopath Clinical Diagnostics

Technopath Clinical Diagnostics is a global leader in the development and 
manufacture of total quality control (QC) solutions for clinical laboratories. 
In 2008, we launched the In-Vitro Diagnostic industry's first truly 
consolidated Immunochemistry quality control materials. Consolidating multiple 
tests into one QC product enables clinical laboratories to significantly 
improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of QC processes. Our IAMQC(R) 
software platform automates the handling and management of QC data, while 
facilitating laboratory accreditation requirements. Today, our products are 
used by over 15,000 leading laboratories in over 130 countries. For more 
information on Technopath, visit www.technopathcd.com. 

Photo - 
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1165845/Multichem_ID_COVID19_Tubes.jpg  
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1165846/Technopath_Logo.jp 

Contacts:
For Media: 
Sunny Uberoi
Corporate Communications
Telephone: + 1 917-747-2018
Email: sunny@166media.com

For Business Development:
Conor Connolly
VP Commercial, Technopath Clinical Diagnostics
Email: conor.connolly@technopathcd.com 
Telephone: + 353-61-525700

For Marketing & Communications:
Len Lloyd
Director  Marketing, Technopath Clinical Diagnostics
Email: len.lloyd @technopathcd.com
Telephone: + 353-61-525700

SOURCE: Technopath Clinical Diagnostics

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