Chronic kidney diseases can soon be detected early with the help of ACT by Zensorium, a device that is undergoing testing at the Singapore General Hospital.
Offered by the Nitto Denko Asia Technical Centre (NAT), the research and development arm of the Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Nitto Denko, the device works by testing a patient’s urine sample for increased levels of albumin and creatinine.
Albumin is a protein produced by the liver while creatinine is a waste product created from the wear and tear of muscles. High levels of these, correlates to a higher risk of a patient having chronic kidney disease.
ACT by Zensorium is able to test for these substances at a specificity and sensitivity of over 95%, compared to the laboratory-grade kidney tests that are being used at present.
This is as the testing device and test cartridges allow for easy usage and minimise errors from handling and measurement that can possibly be made by handling personnel.
By contrast, the current tests available use test strips and provide results that are qualitative rather than quantitative. This renders difficulty in the early detection of kidney problems.
Meanwhile, ACT by Zensorium uses a proprietary solution that does without cold-chain refrigeration processes – which are typically used when storing and transporting the cartridge packed with test reagents.
“We removed the need for cold-chain processes in our chemicals and engineered our device to achieve consumer-grade kidney tests that will cut down costs, and improve access even in a primary care setting,” explains Visit Thaveeprungsriporn, managing director of NAT.
As at 10.30am in Singapore, Nikko Dento was down1.245 to trade at ¥8,710 ($112.21).
