Siemens Healthineers has launched capillary testing on the Atellica CH, IM, and CI Analyzers after receiving CE-mark for 24 capillary blood testing claims, an advancement for capillary testing that offers clinical labs greater confidence in test results and higher throughput.
Capillary testing on the Atellica analyzerssupports the most common laboratory testing needs – including key assays that comprise the comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panels, thyroid, Vitamin D, and HbA1c. Blood collection for capillary testing is mostly done through a finger prick or heel stick, rather than a standard blood draw (venipuncture) where a needle is inserted directly into a vein, offering greater flexibility for diverse patient testing needs.
“Offering a capillary test menu expands the testing that can be done in the core lab to reach more patients and support more testing needs – all with the same systems they already trust,” said Sharon Bracken, head of Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers. “Our efforts to expand capillary claims across our assay menu build upon our broader vision to make testing more accessible, efficient, and patient-friendly.”
Capillary claims provide on-label, validated capillary performance data that otherwise is not a standard practice within core laboratory testing. Laboratories who have previously offered this method have presumably taken extra steps to validate their capillary testing performance to ensure test results are accurate, as collection methods can influence quality as well as the accuracy of test results. For these reasons, many laboratories have remained dependent on venous draws for testing, even as patient access challenges, staffing shortages, and demand for faster turnaround times continue to grow.
Capillary blood collection provides a practical testing option for patients with difficult veins, or low blood volume for which repeat venipuncture testing could be harmful. It is also useful for patients with trypanophobia (fear of needles), or disabilities for whom venipuncture could be challenging. Capillary Press Release Page 2/2 testing on the Atellica analyzers from Siemens Healthineers offers laboratories flexibility to diversify their testing approaches – whether they wish to scale their testing capabilities to reach underserved patients or support existing patients with more expansive testing capabilities than they currently offer.
Siemens Healthineers offers four assays with capillary claims in the United States: total protein (TP_2), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and triiodothyronine (T3). Siemens Healthineers is pursuing additional capillary testing claims with the FDA, subject to regulatory review, as part of its broader strategy to support laboratories in expanding their offerings for patient testing and simplifying their operations.
