RAPClot Rapid serum tubes – a new standard biochemistry tube

Limitations of existing blood collection tubes have been known for many years. The predominant tube is the simple silica-based serum tube, which takes up to 30min to clot and when not clotted properly, can lead to particulates in the serum that can interfere with analysis equipment. Serum tubes with thrombin are available to clot samples faster, however these tubes are not effective against higher concentrations of anticoagulants and their high price has limited widespread adoption. Plasma tubes are centrifuged without clotting, however the resultant plasma still contains all the clotting factors and remnant cells and is not optimal for biochemical analysis.

Q-Sera has developed a a new standard biochemistry tube, with a fast turn-around time that can be manufactured for universal implementation.

UNMET NEED: A low cost serum tube which clots rapidly, producing High Quality Serum and is effective against anticoagulated samples.

CURRENT BLOOD COLLECTION TUBES

Serum: Silica-Based Clotting Activator Tube

  • Leader in the market
  • Normal blood takes 15–30 min to clot
  • Partial or re-clotting can lead to inaccurate analyte readings and/or affect the equipment
  • Anticoagulated blood takes longer to clot (if at all)

Serum: Thrombin ‘Rapid Serum’ Tube

  • Fast clotting
  • Not effective at higher Heparin levels
  • High cost per tube

Plasma Tube

  • Plasma sample not optimal for biochemical analysis
  • Poor sample stability

MARKET TRENDS

Anticoagulant Use Increasing

  • Increase in cardiac and dialysis use in hospitals
  • Increasing use of FXa inhibitors and direct thrombin inhibitors in the community setting – status may not be known in outpatients

Need for Rapid and Accurate Results

  • Increased focus on achieving turn-around time (TAT) - time from receipt of sample to analyte results
  • Increasing need for 'STAT' or Urgent tubes - fast and accurate diagnosis (e.g.) Troponin biomarker for myocardial infarction.

Push for Laboratory Efficiency

  • Hospitals:
    • Efficient batch processing
    • Reduction in laboratory errors and re-sampling
  • 7-day sample storage with stable analytes
  • Community or Reference laboratories:
    • Efficient batch processing
    • Minimal sample disruption to analytes with transportation of tubes to the laboratory.

Benefits of RAPClot® Rapid serum tubes

Fast and complete clotting
  • Clots anticoagulated blood
  • Majority of samples takes <5 min to clot
High quality serum
  • Minimal re-clotting or fibrin formation in serum
  • Minimal cellular activity in serum
  • Key analytes stable over 7 days
  • High clot strength ensures accuracy of analytes
Enhanced laboratory efficiency
  • Efficiency in batch processing - reduces turn around time. Sample fully clotted when it reaches the laboratory.
  • Minimizes equipment downtime
  • Accurate diagnosis and improved patient care
  • Consolidation to one tube with cost and work flow savings
Commercial utility and advantage
  • Industry standard plastic tubes
  • Industry standard spraying, drying and irradiation techniques
  • Industry competitive shelf life
  • Low cost active enabling mass market entry
  • Patent protection through 2035