2010/10/01
October 1, 2010, Parsippany, NJ, USA – The ecarin chromogenic assay (ECA) from Diagnostica Stago, Inc. (Stago), is a highly-specific tool for determining the exact direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) concentration in plasma without any sample interferences.
“Direct thrombin inhibitors are of great interest to researchers currently,” notes Robert Bachkosky, Stago’s Director of National Sales & Marketing. “This automated assay provides a standardized and reproducible method to measure them in a precise manner.”
Unlike the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), Stago’s ECA results are independent of coagulation factors and plasmatic inhibitors within the sample; and as it is not influenced by lupus anticoagulants, the assay allows for specific determination of the drug levels. ECA is insensitive to heparin, LMWH, danaparoid, fondaparinux and direct factor Xa antagonists. Additionally, the ECA dose response results are linear and do not plateau at elevated concentrations. Thus, ECA allows labs to precisely validate drug manufacturer claims based on their product inserts as well as published data based on sponsored studies.
The ECA kit may be adapted to Stago’s automated instruments, and the wide measuring range includes two reagent formats dedicated to each DTI type (ECA-H for recombinant hirudins, ECA-T for synthetic DTIs.) Recombinant hirudins include desirudin (REVASC®, Iprivask®) and lepirudin (REFLUDAN®). DTIs include argatroban (Argatroban), bivalirudin (Angiomax®), and dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa®). Specific standards and controls are also available. The ECA kit is for research use only in the United States and Canada, and is not for use in diagnostic procedures.
About Diagnostica Stago, Inc.
Diagnostica Stago, Inc. is the exclusive provider of the Diagnostica Stago Hemostasis product lines in the United States and offers a complete system of coagulation instruments and optimized reagent kits for research as well as for routine analysis. Diagnostica Stago, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Diagnostica Stago, S.A.S. France, a leader in the development and manufacture of Hemostasis products. For more information about any Stago product or service, please call 800-222-COAG or visit our website at www.stago-us.com.