Sphingotec's penKid (proenkephalin) point-of-care (POC) plasma test was accurate for predicting acute kidney injury, multiorgan failure, and death in a study of 588 emergency department (ED) patients with sepsis, the company reported.
The study evaluated the diagnostic in combination with serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), an established marker of kidney function. Elevated results on penKid considered with eGFR results correlated with outcomes, according to the Hennigsdorf, Germany-based company. High penKid plasma levels identified all ED patients with hidden acute injury and acute kidney injury at the time of admission and reflected worsening of kidney function, the company explained.
The penKid test may be more convenient for use in the ED than eGFR, which requires serial measurements and has variable results depending on a range of factors, such as inflammation, fluid overload, and pharmaceutical therapy, Sphingotec suggested.
The company plans to launch a penKid test with the CE Mark for use on its Nexus IB10 platform in the first quarter of next year.
