Beckman Coulter Announces Commercialization of DxM MicroScan WalkAway System

BREA, Calif., Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Beckman Coulter announced today commercialization of its DxM MicroScan WalkAway system, a diagnostic solution for bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing for microbiology laboratories. The DxM MicroScan WalkAway system uses direct minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for detection of antimicrobial resistance, offering greater confidence in results through gold-standard accuracy and the broadest breadth of first-time reporting. Building upon 40 years of trusted MicroScan technology, the DxM MicroScan WalkAway system supports microbiology laboratories that seek to optimize patient care, while reducing the risks, costs and operational burden of emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

"The DxM MicroScan WalkAway system gives our clinical laboratory partners the ability to identify emerging resistance with the highest levels of accuracy, ensuring optimal patient care," said Joseph Repp, senior vice president and general manager of microbiology at Beckman Coulter. "Laboratories can have utmost confidence in the performance of our technology, which has been given number-one ratings by ServiceTrak™ for software ease of use and technical application support."

Emerging AMR threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi, according to the World Health Organization.² AMR is an increasingly serious threat to public health that requires global action. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called antibiotic resistance public health's ticking time bomb.³ Up to 50,000 people die because of AMR in the U.S. and Europe alone,^4,5 and one study claims that 10 million people a year could die from this global crisis by the year 2050.⁶ Timely, accurate detection of emerging AMR is of critical importance in helping to ensure patients are protected against the risk of worsening infection or its progression to life-threatening conditions such as sepsis or septic shock.

"We are one of the first hospitals in the country to use MicroScan. It gives our staff great confidence and means we are fully geared up in advance of any outbreak," said Rachael Arkley, laboratory manager and head biomedical scientist, William Harvey Hospital, United Kingdom.

The DxM MicroScan WalkAway solution is designed to keep laboratories at the forefront of bacterial identification and susceptibility testing with proven detection of emerging resistance to the toughest pathogens. "As new issues have arisen, such as carbapenemases or other resistance mechanisms, MicroScan has adapted. The panels have been updated to assist us in identifying these new resistance mechanisms," said Dr. Emilia Cercenado, pharmacist and microbiologist at the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, in Madrid, Spain.

At the same time, the system's delivery of first-time gold-standard MIC accuracy helps laboratories achieve their operational goals by reducing costs associated with confirmatory—or offline—testing. Added workflow enhancements include a new fluid-level sensing technology for added assurance, easy-to-view external LED indicators that show status at a glance, quick bottle release that simplifies reagent maintenance, and integrated reliability improvements that maximize uptime.

The DxM MicroScan WalkAway system is part of a full line of microbiology solutions from Beckman Coulter designed to guide critical patient decisions through proven accuracy. Automation and standardization of all core aspects of specimen testing creates workflow efficiencies for the laboratory, while reliable solutions deliver trusted results the first time, for enhanced patient care.

About Beckman Coulter
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics helps healthcare and laboratory professionals provide better patient care by delivering the accurate diagnostic information they need, when they need it. With a rich 80-year history, Beckman Coulter is a strong partner for healthcare organizations. Our scalable instruments, comprehensive diagnostic tests and business management services are trusted by hospitals, laboratories and other critical care settings around the world. We share in our customers' mission toward continuous improvement and quality patient care because we believe that when efficiency and clinical outcomes are improved, patients benefit, and we can move healthcare forward for every person.

References:

1. Kalorama Information. The Worldwide Market for In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Tests, 10th Edition, 2017, pg 878.
2. World Health Organization. "Antimicrobial Resistance." http://www.who.int/antimicrobial-resistance/en/. Accessed 23 May 2018.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Detect and Protect Against Antibiotic Resistance" Fact Sheet. https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/AR_Initiative_Fact_Sheet.pdf
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Detect and Protect Against Antibiotic Resistance." https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/AR_Initiative_Fact_Sheet.pdf. Accessed 23 May 2018.
5. World Health Organization, Europe. "Antimicrobial Resistance." http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/antimicrobial-resistance. Accessed 23 May 2018.
6. O'Neill, J. "Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a Crisis for the Health and Wealth of Nations." The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, 2014. https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/AMR%20Review%20Paper%20-%20Tackling%20a%20crisis%20for%20the%20health%20and%20wealth%20of%20nations_1.pdf. Accessed 23, May 2018.

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