A new point of care test for pre-eclampsia is set to revolutionise testing for suspected pre-eclampsia in maternity units across the UK, aiding early detection and prognosis in pregnant women between 20-37 weeks of gestation.
Placental growth factor (PLGF) was first recommended by NICE in 2016 for use in pregnant women, but since this time its use has been confined mainly to hospital laboratories. The new Lepzi PLGF test from Una Health is performed directly from EDTA whole blood in just 15 minutes, making it the first easy to use test for the prediction and diagnosis of pre-eclampsia with no laboratory equipment required. This hugely improves the accessibility of this important test in maternity management.
A study on the Lepzi test, published in April this year in the journal Pregnancy Hypertension by King’s College London, led by Professor Andrew Shennan and Dr Kate Bramham, demonstrated excellent performance for diagnosis and ruling out pre-eclampsia as well as showing that the test is comparable to NICE recommended tests.
The study showed that the test can be used for determining which women are likely to need delivery for pre-eclampsia within 7, 14 and 28 days. This will enable safe discharge home, reducing the healthcare burden as unnecessary monitoring is not required.
Speaking about the test, Professor Shennan said: “The Lepzi test delivers a step-change in the diagnosis and prognosis of pre-eclampsia. “With no centrifuging required, the test can be rapidly carried out at point of care and I have no doubt that it will become an essential tool for healthcare professionals.”
Una Health has entered into a partnership with Lepzi Ltd to become the UK distributor for the new Lepzi PLGF test.
Commenting on the partnership, Naomi Chant, Commercial Director, POCT of Una Health said: “We are committed to driving change in women’s health to improve outcomes for patients as well as supporting those working in healthcare to deliver better, more efficient services.
“The Lepzi PLGF test represents a really powerful step forward and we are excited to be part of its roll out.”
