The first such system, adopted by medical laboratories in 1976, was the automatic urinalysis system CLINITEK Analyzer. However, for larger sample volumes such as those dealt with by hospitals, where hundreds of tests must be evaluated each day, automatic measurement systems can help save a great deal of time while providing reliable results. These strips could be read with the naked eye by comparing them against color tables – a straightforward and practical process still used today in small medical practices or by private users. The invention of Clinistix prompted the development of numerous other test strips for urine and blood analysis. Test strips remain a part of the standard toolkit used by any doctor’s practice or laboratory to this day.
Subsequent versions, such as Multistix in 1984, featured additional test pads for measurement of other parameters.
Clinistix cemented the arrival of a new method in laboratory medicine known as “dip-and-read” diagnostics. The strips only had to be briefly dipped in urine, yielding a result after just ten seconds. In 1956, a method was devised to apply the reagents to strips of paper – the first Clinistix test strips. The invention, by a company called Miles – now merged with the Siemens Healthineers Diagnostics division – laid the foundation for modern point-of-care diagnostics. By mixing the tablet with a few drops of urine, blood sugar levels could be determined after a brief wait based on the color change observed. That all changed with the arrival of Clinitest, an effervescent tablet combining all the necessary reagents for a rapid urine test for diabetes screening. Testing is also essential in determining if the patient is taking their prescribed medications, if they are substituting other medication in the same class, or if their prescribed levels are too high or low.Mixing, heating, long waiting periods – until the 1940s, urine analysis in the lab was a long and drawn-out process. Toxicology testing can also determine if there is a chemical reason for the patient’s reported and observed symptoms, which can aid in diagnosis. This testing can give information on how the patient metabolizes their prescribed drugs to determine whether the treatment plan is accurate. Our Toxicology lab can provide valuable diagnostic tools to aid in the treatment of patients as well.Our partners at CUUR Diagnostics can aid in identification of pathogens causing many types if infection and antibody resistance of some bacteria.Our laboratory team can help you build a lab to perform many of these tests yourselves and will help you choose the testing that is right for your needs.This improves both the quality of care and treatment outcomes.Īssurity labs strives to provide tools for this important diagnostic testing in the following ways: The use of laboratory testing to reach appropriate, evidence-based conclusions allows for the identification of abnormalities, strong decision making on treatment courses, and choosing the correct diagnosis by ruling a diagnosis in or out. Clinical laboratory testing plays a critical role in healthcare.