New Assay for Specific and Stable Free Protein S Antigen Testing

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics unveils the INNOVANCE® Free PS Ag (Protein S Antigen) assay, a novel assay for easy, specific and stable free protein S antigen testing. The assay employs polystyrene particles coated with monoclonal antibodies for highly specific determination of free protein S.

The addition of this new test complements Siemens' existing protein S activity assay (Protein S Ac) and enables the company to provide a complete protein S testing menu to laboratories. When combined with existing Siemens thrombophilia assays — all optimized for use with the Siemens BCS® and Sysmex analyzers — the INNOVANCE Free PS Ag assay completes clinical laboratories’ thrombophilia testing portfolio for consistent, comparable performance across coagulation systems.

Protein S, a plasma protein manufactured in the liver, is an anticoagulant that functions as a cofactor for protein C-mediated inhibition of activated factors V and VIII. Those with protein S deficiency, which may be congenital or acquired, are at greater risk for venous thrombosis. Therefore, testing for protein S plays an important role in thrombophilia screening.

The INNOVANCE Free PS Ag assay (not available for sale in the U.S.) has been proven to demonstrate high linearity and excellent precision over the entire calibrated measuring range, as well as high specificity for free protein S antigens with no major interferences, including those commonly incurred from rheumatoid factors and heterophilic antibodies. The test also delivers excellent onboard reagent stability as well as stability after opening of the vial, contributing to reduced waste, along with superb lot-to-lot consistency and correlation of results among all the coagulation analyzers on which it runs. Plus, the test’s ease of use minimizes operator training requirements and hands-on time in the lab, and convenient liquid reagent requires no mixing or preparation and loads quickly and easily onto coagulation analyzers.

“Specificity, stability and ease of use are key drivers behind a laboratory’s confidence in an assay, as these factors directly contribute to results accuracy and decreased error potential,” said Michael Noeh, Vice President, Global Marketing Hematology, Hemostasis, and Specialty Business Unit, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. “The Siemens INNOVANCE Free PS Ag assay not only successfully delivers these key factors, it also enables laboratories to complete their thrombophilia testing panel.”

The INNOVANCE Free PS Ag assay reflects Siemens’ continuing innovation leadership, which is a goal of the recently launched Siemens Agenda 2013 program: an initiative to further strengthen the Healthcare Sector's innovative power and competitiveness.

Launched by Siemens Healthcare Sector in November 2011, Agenda 2013 program is a two-year global initiative to further strengthen the Healthcare Sector's innovative power and competitiveness. Specific measures will be implemented in four fields of action: Innovation, Competitiveness, Regional Footprint, and People Development.

¹ Not available for sale in the U.S.