New Diabetic Biomarker Test Introduced

EKF Diagnostics announces that it has introduced a new diabetic biomarker test that provides a 2-3 week indicator of average blood glucose. The Stanbio Chemistry Glycated Serum Protein (GSP) LiquiColor® test closes the information gap between daily blood glucose testing and the 2-3 month HbA1c reading. This means that GSP serves as an accurate intermediate marker of glycemia in instances where HbA1c may be of limited value, such as pregnancy, reduced RBC lifespan and hemodialysis.

EKF’s new Stanbio GSP assay, based on a double enzymatic degradation method, provides superior specificity, accuracy and reliability compared to the older non-enzymatic fructosamine NBT method. This is because the GSP LiquiColor test utilises the specificity of fructosyl-amino oxidase to eliminate inaccuracies caused by non-glycated protein reducing substances which significantly interfere with the NBT fructosamine method.

Measuring HbA1c and GSP together offers improved diagnostic accuracy and management of diabetic patients by more reliably predicting complications of diabetes, including nephropathy and retinopathy. This is also backed up by scientific studies that suggest that combining GSP results with HbA1c measurements provides a better assessment of long term risk of diabetic complications.

The new open-channel enzymatic GSP LiquiColor test is convenient and cost effective. Available as a liquid-stable kit and calibrator, it is suitable to use on a variety of clinical chemistry analysers, with on-board stability of up to four weeks. It is also both FDA approved and CE marked.

“GSP can provide a helpful supplement to glucose and HbA1c testing, when assessing glycemic control for the management of diabetic patients, especially in cases where HbA1c may be inaccurate,” commented Al Blanco, Business Unit Director , Central Lab at EKF Diagnostics. “GSP bridges the glycation gap, which is the difference between actual measured HbA1c and predicted HbA1c from glycated serum protein, to provide improved prediction of diabetic complications.”