EKF Diagnostics Opens New R&D Facility in the United Kingdom

EKF Diagnostics, the global in-vitro diagnostics company, has opened a new Research & Development facility at its Cardiff, U.K., headquarters. The new Special Projects Laboratory will focus on developing new applications for EKF’s many point-of-care and central laboratory medical products to enable the company to enter new market sectors, as well as providing additional diagnostics sales and regulatory support.
 
The addition of this new U.K.-based laboratory brings the total number of EKF’s worldwide R&D facilities to five, with 25 research staff. As well as the new U.K. laboratory, EKF operates two research sites in Germany (Barleben and Leipzig) focusing on developing EKF’s point-of-care analyzers, such as the recently launched Lactate Scout 4 handheld lactate meter and haemoglobin analysers. There are also two U.S.-based facilities that respectively develop EKF’s central laboratory clinical chemistry applications, as well as custom fermentation/bioprocessing and purification procedures for life science and pharmaceuticals industries.
 
EKF’s Cardiff-based laboratory complements and supports EKF’s other global R&D facilities by focusing on product application development and some aspects of data support. The two new research scientists based there will also investigate how EKF products can bring benefits to new markets beyond healthcare and diagnostics, such as the veterinary, food and brewing industries.
 
In addition, the new laboratory will provide diagnostics sales support through product comparisons and new technology evaluations. Its regulatory support work will include data generation for new territory registrations across the world, as well as claim support for existing products where more data may be required. The lab will also help EKF’s other R&D teams during product development by aiding with bench work and sample testing that can otherwise slow down product launches. For example, the lab will be key in implementing suggestions from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding a new product registration in the United States.
 
“Our new Cardiff-based lab is already assisting our other R&D teams globally, freeing them up to dedicate their time to EKF’s new product development and realisation pipeline,” said Dr Gary Dowthwaite, special projects coordinator, EKF Diagnostics. “For example, they are working on a project to obtain data from animal species using our new Lactate Scout 4 analyser. This will enable EKF to enter the veterinary testing market, as raised lactate levels are indicative of an underlying health condition in small animals.”
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc, which includes the EKF Diagnostics, Stanbio Laboratory, and DiaSpect brands, specializes in the development, production, and worldwide distribution of point-of-care analyzers for use in the detection and management of diabetes and anemia, and also in sports and maternal medicine. EKF products are sold in more than 100 countries around the globe, through a network of specialist distributors. 
 
Point-of-care diagnostics: EKF Diagnostics designs and manufactures world-class diagnostic devices, as well as distributing rapid test kits for infectious diseases and pregnancy. The EKF analyzer range is used widely in GP surgeries, pharmacies, blood banks, sports clinics, hospitals and laboratories for glucose, lactate, hemoglobin, hematocrit and HbA1c measurement.
 
Central laboratory: EKF, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Stanbio Laboratory (Boerne, Texas, USA), manufactures a range of clinical chemistry reagents, as well as associated analyzers. In addition, EKF Life Sciences (Elkhart, Ind.) manufactures enzymes used in reagent development and also provides contract fermentation facilities.