Connecting withCardiology

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a serious medical challenge. The condition, which affects as many as 25% - 50% of ICU patients, is very difficult to detect early in a patient’s clinical presentation and is associated with poor prognosis.

Although molecular damage in kidney disease starts before clinical changes become evident, diagnosis is often delayed several days until increased serum creatinine or decreased urine output are observed.

However, a new biomarker has emerged for AKI which holds the promise of early intervention for improved outcomes. Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalcin (NGAL) is a protein that is dramatically excreted into the circulation when there is ischemic renal injury and is proving a very early predictor of acute renal injury. Our new Alere™ Triage^® NGAL
test has been specifically developed for use at the point of care. Quick and easy to perform, it requires just 250 μl of EDTA blood to provide quantitative results in 15 minutes.