The Importance of Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury, in COVID-19 Patients

Randox are proud to provide an early detection assay, capable of detecting Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 positive patients. AKI is an innovative diagnostic tool capable of identifying four early and highly sensitive markers of kidney injury.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has highlighted that is important that COVID-19 patients are assessed for AKI on admission to hospital or transfer, monitored for AKI throughout their stay and that AKI is managed appropriately if it develops. (NICE 2020)

The novel test, which includes biomarkers recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency detects KIM-I, NGAL, Cystatin C, and Clusterin.

Kidney failure associated with COVID-19 is emerging as a common side effect with further studies underway. The importance of early detection to prevent further renal damage, is detrimental to an individual’s long-term health, well being and overall survival.

 The biomarkers on the Randox AKI Biochip have been identified as more sensitive than traditional testing methods, which, based on urine output and levels of serum creatinine, are grossly insensitive and not specific for the accurate diagnosis and monitoring of AKI.

Levels of serum creatinine take a lengthy 48 hours to rise in the urine of someone with Acute Kidney Injury, while the biomarkers, such as NGAL, on the new AKI biochip from Randox, can be present in urine within hours following initial kidney insult. The Randox Biochip test is then performed within just 2.5 hours.

As well as enabling earlier and more accurate detection of Acute Kidney Injury with the use of biomarkers with higher sensitivity, the new testing panel from also facilitates increased lab efficiency and reduced sample prep from the laboratory technician. Using just one urine sample, Randox’s patented Biochip Technology tests for all four AKI biomarkers simultaneously, resulting in time and cost saving benefits, which drive towards an increase in clinical performance.