EKF Diagnostics, the global in vitro diagnostics company, announces that it has signed a three-year distribution agreement with Tosoh Europe N.V. for the distribution of its Quo-Test® HbA1c point-of-care (POC) analyzer in the Middle East and Africa. Tosoh Bioscience division is one of the largest global manufacturers of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipment for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) analysis predominantly in core laboratories. As a desktop analyzer designed for simple and reliable HbA1c measurement for monitoring and managing diabetes in POC settings, such as diabetes clinics and doctors’ surgeries, EKF’s Quo-Test analyzer complements Tosoh’s HPLC technology.
Tosoh Europe has seen a growing need for point-of-care HbA1c analysis alongside its traditional laboratory market and has identified EKF Diagnostics as an important partner to work with in order to provide this to its customers. As a leading HPLC manufacturer, Tosoh’s analyzers are frequently used to benchmark and validate POC devices such as Quo-Test. This agreement will allow both EKF and Tosoh Europe to work in markets they have previously been unable to access and provides Tosoh Europe with the opportunity to offer new services to suit changing customer requirements.
“We are delighted to partner with Tosoh Europe as they expand their need for point-of-care HbA1c analysis in a time where those suffering from diabetes are at greater risk,” commented Julian Baines, CEO of EKF. “Tosoh is a leading HPLC brand and its analysers are considered to be the gold standard when validating POC products such as EKF’s Quo-Test. For them to choose our analyzer to complement their lab-based HPLC analyzers for HbA1c testing is a great endorsement of our technology.”
Quo-Test is fully automated and quantifies HbA1c from a 4μL sample taken from a finger prick or venous whole blood. Unaffected by most hemoglobin variants, lab-quality results are available within four minutes and reported in IFCC and DCCT standard units. Also facilitating its use as a POC analyzer, step-by-step instructions are displayed on Quo-Test’s multi-lingual display, minimizing staff training time and minimizing user-related errors.
After the initial three-year term for the Middle East and Africa, EKF’s Quo-Test distribution agreement with Tosoh Europe has a rolling one-year renewal with the option to extend the agreement into EU countries as required.
About EKF Diagnostics
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc, which includes the EKF Diagnostics, Stanbio Laboratory and DiaSpect brands, specializes in the development, production and worldwide distribution of point-of-care analyzers for use in the detection and management of diabetes and anemia, and also in sports and maternal medicine. EKF products are sold in more than 100 countries around the globe, through a network of specialist distributors.
Point-of-care diagnostics: EKF Diagnostics designs and manufactures world-class diagnostic devices, as well as distributing rapid test kits for infectious diseases and pregnancy. The EKF analyzer range is used widely in GP surgeries, pharmacies, blood banks, sports clinics, hospitals and laboratories for glucose, lactate, hemoglobin, hematocrit and HbA1c measurement.
Central laboratory: EKF, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Stanbio Laboratory (Boerne, Texas, USA), manufactures a comprehensive range of clinical chemistry reagents, as well as associated analyzers. In addition, EKF Life Sciences (Elkhart, Indiana, USA) manufactures enzymes used in reagent development and also provides contract fermentation facilities.
About Tosoh Europe N.V.
Tosoh Europe N.V. is a part of Tosoh Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The parent company was established in 1935 and is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In the 80 years that we have been in business, we have built balanced product lines of commodity chemicals for industry and of specialty products and materials for high technology and niche markets.
Tosoh Bioscience is a leading supplier of chromatographic columns, media, and sophisticated diagnostic systems. Bringing the best in quality products and services from complete in-house bio-separation and diagnostic portfolios.
Tosoh’s diagnostic systems feature advanced immunoassay technologies such as the AIA series of automated immunoassay analyzers, G series of glycohemoglobin analyzers, and molecular testing solutions that support the monitoring of such life-threatening disease as diabetes, certain cancers, and microbial infections. They also feature integrated essential hardware and software uncompromising value through global customer support that includes ensuring the ready availability of the systems’ consumable items, namely AIA-PACK reagent cups.
