Orange County, Calif. -- (September 14, 2009) — Beckman Coulter, Inc. has expanded its drugs of abuse test menu to include a Buprenorphine Enzyme Immunoassay. The test provides fast screening for the qualitative and semi-quantitative determination of norbuprenorphine (buprenorphine metabolite) in human urine.
Reagents and calibrators for the assay are liquid and ready-to-use, eliminating the need to mix, hydrate or pre-dilute reagents before testing. The assay’s cutoff value is 10 ng/mL for norbuprenorphine, and it delivers analytical sensitivity of 3 ng/mL for buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine (the active, dealkylated metabolite of buprenorphine). It cross-reacts at 94% with buprenorphine.
Drugs of Abuse Test (DAT) assays, available through Beckman Coulter, are formulated to deliver the critical elements of effective DAT analysis — speed, accuracy, ease-of-use and economy. When used in conjunction with Synchron,® UniCel® Clinical Chemistry Systems and i class Integrated Systems, these high quality assays provide timely, reliable and efficient DAT results.
About Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid that is often used as a substitution treatment for heroin addiction or opiate dependence. At low doses, it can help opioid-addicted individuals stop abusing opioids without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. Therapeutically buprenorphine is as effective as methadone but exhibits a much lower level of physical dependence. However, though studies have shown that buprenorphine has abuse potential and may itself cause dependency it has a much lower likelihood or rate than methadone. (Huang W, Moody DE, McCance-Katz EF. The in vivo glucuronidation of buprenorphine and the norbuprenorphine determined by liquid chromatography-electrosray Ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. Ther Drug Monit, 2006; 28: 245-251)
In addition to Buprenorphine, Beckman Coulter’s broad DAT menu includes: Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Barbiturate Serum Tox, Benzodiazapine, Benzodiazepine Serum Tox, Cannabinoid, Cocaine Metabolite, Ecstasy, Methadone, Methaqualone, Oxycodone, Opiates, Phencyclidine, Propoxyphene and Tricyclics Serum Tox.
Beckman Coulter also provides a wide range of test panels for anemia, autoimmune conditions, cardiac disease, diabetes, therapeutic drug monitoring, general chemistry, hepatic function, infectious diseases, inflammatory proteins, lipids, nutritional assessment, renal function, thyroid function, toxicology, specialty and STAT testing.
Beckman Coulter, Inc., based in Orange County, California, develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical tests. More than 200,000 Beckman Coulter systems operate in laboratories around the world, supplying critical information for improving patient health and reducing the cost of care. Recurring revenue, consisting of supplies, test kits, service and operating-type lease payments, represents approximately 78 percent of the 2008 annual revenue of $3.1 billion. For more information, visit www.beckmancoulter.com.
