Abbott Introduces Enhanced Progesterone Test For Architect(reg) System

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 27 Jan 2005 - 15:00 PDT

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Measuring Progesterone Can Help Diagnose Infertility Problems and Be Used to Monitor the Health of a Pregnancy -

Abbott announced today an expanded fertility menu for its ARCHITECT(reg) System with the introduction of an improved ARCHITECT(reg) Progesterone test. A female hormone, progesterone works in conjunction with other hormones to help prepare a woman's body for pregnancy. Designed for use on Abbott's ARCHITECT(reg) i2000(reg) and ARCHITECT(reg) i2000SR(reg) Immunoassay Systems, as well as, ARCHITECT(reg) ci8200(reg) Immunochemistry System, the ARCHITECT(reg) Progesterone test provides diagnostic laboratories with an accurate, sensitive and precise test to measure progesterone levels.

"Useful for assessing ovulation, progesterone levels can be measured to help diagnose infertility problems. Throughout the menstrual cycle, progesterone levels will vary but typically remain low prior to ovulation, where they begin to rise. If conception does not occur, levels will decrease to initiate menstruation," said David Spindell, M.D., senior director, Medical and Clinical Affairs, Abbott. "During pregnancy, progesterone levels normally continue to rise and are monitored to assess pregnancy health as low levels of the hormone can lead to miscarriage."

The ARCHITECT progesterone test provides an initial result in 29 minutes. With the high throughput of Abbott's ARCHITECT family of analyzers, laboratories can process tests quickly and efficiently. Additionally, a lab can perform other fertility tests on the same patient sample.

"Since progesterone levels are evaluated several times during medical treatments for infertility or when monitoring placenta and fetal health, a progesterone test needs to be sensitive and precise across a wide measurement range," said William Brown, Ph.D., vice president, Diagnostic Assays and Systems Development, Abbott. "Our ARCHITECT progesterone test offers excellent precision across the assay range enhancing ARCHITECT's fertility menu. This assay also complements our recently introduced ARCHITECT(reg) Estradiol test as both play an important role in the treatment of infertility using assisted reproductive technologies."

Other tests on the ARCHITECT fertility menu include: ARCHITECT Estradiol, ARCHITECT(reg) FSH [follicle stimulating hormone], ARCHITECT(reg) LH [luteinizing hormone], ARCHITECT(reg) Prolactin, and ARCHITECT(reg) Total B-hCG [Beta human chorionic gonadotropin]. Outside of the United States, ARCHITECT(reg) Testosterone is also available.

About ARCHITECT i2000 and i2000SR systems

Meeting the laboratory's need for increased automation and productivity, the ARCHITECT i2000 and i2000SR systems can process up to 200 immunoassay tests an hour without compromising test throughput or turnaround time. The i2000 can also be expanded to increase test throughput from 200 to up 800 tests per hour with the i4000�, i6000� or i8000� system options. The i2000SR system provides the added capability of processing stat tests quickly and efficiently with results in less than 16 minutes.

About ARCHITECT ci8200 system

Combining immunoassay and clinical chemistry on one integrated platform, the ci8200 system runs up to 200 immunoassay tests and up to 1200 clinical chemistry tests an hour. By consolidating both immunoassay and clinical chemistry testing capabilities, the ci8200 helps improve laboratory productivity and efficiency.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 60,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

This is a press release from Abbott Laboratories