POCMATE™
Point-of-Care testing made simple, fast and accurate
Our novel POCMATE™ HNL assays take advantage of differences in epitope specificities of our antibodies
POCMATE™
For the Measurement of HNL in Infectious Disease
Human Neutrophil Lipocalin (HNL)
HNL is a complicated molecule existing in various forms in
bodily fluids such as monomers, dimers and heteromers, the latter in complex with other
molecules. The results of the measurement of HNL therefore very much depend on the
antibodies raised against HNL.
The philosophy of Diagnostics Development has always been to raise antibodies
against native monomeric or dimeric HNL, which has resulted in antibodies reacting to
many different epitopes on the various forms of HNL. The combination of the different
antibodies in immunoassays has resulted in HNL assays with different qualities. Some
immunoassays show similar qualities as immunoassays of the related gene products
NGAL and Lipocalin2 but some HNL immunoassays show superior performance in
outcome prediction, in the diagnosis of acute infections and in antibiotics therapy
monitoring.
Our HNL assays are based on native human HNL as immunogen and are available in
different formats and antibody configurations. Our novel POCMATE™ assays takes
advantage of the differences in epitope specificities of our antibodies and has
resulted in the development of three different Point-of-Care assays with unique
clinical applications:
POCMATE™ Bact | POCMATE™ Sepsis | POCMATE™ AKI
POCMATE™ Bact:
Bacterial or Viral infection?
A patent-protected superior method for the distinction between bacterial and viral acute infections.
This first application focuses on diagnosis: identifying whether an acute infection is
most likely bacterial or viral, so that treatment decisions can be made earlier and with
greater confidence.
Serum measurement of HNL is a superior method for discrimination between acute
infections caused by bacteria or virus (but requires strict pre-analytic handling of the
blood).
Discrimination between acute infections caused by virus (n=87) or bacteria (n=69)
Serum samples obtained before antibiotics treatment (China)
Activation of neutrophils in whole blood by the tri-peptide fMLP is an
alternative and fast way to discriminate between acute infections caused
by bacteria or virus.
In comparison to any other biomarker such as PCT, CRP, WBC and others, the
distinction between infections caused by bacteria or virus is superior by measuring
HNL after whole blood activation for 5-10 min. This is illustrated in the table and by the
ROC analysis of patients with respiratory infections or in a mixed population with acute
infections.
Respiratory infections and confirmed etiology
The discrimination between bacterial and viral infections. Head-to-head comparisons
All infections confirmed etiology
POCMATE™ Sepsis:
Is your antibiotic treatment effective?
A patent-protected superior method for antibiotic stewardship of sepsis patients.
After diagnosis, the next clinical question is whether antibiotic therapy is working. This section therefore shifts from identifying infection type to monitoring early treatment response in sepsis patients.
Plasma biomarkers in septic patients after adequate antibiotics treatment
Successful antibiotics monitoring in sepsis
Östersund study
Peak study
EDTA plasma measurement of dimeric HNL (left panel) shows early response to successful antibiotic treatment within 24 hours. PCT results (right panel).
POCMATE™ AKI: NGAL – and beyond
A patent-protected superior method for the biomarker management of the ICU patient.
The final application broadens the clinical value proposition from treatment monitoring to outcome prediction, with emphasis on AKI risk and ICU biomarker management.
Plasma measurements of HNL, a better choice for outcome prediction in ICU-patients with and without sepsis.
In the PEAK-study on sepsis HNL was significantly (p=0.003) closer associated to subsequent AKI (RIFLE-score) development than NGAL.
The prediction of AKI (RIFLE score) in patients with sepsis (PEAK-study)
We also illustrate the close association to the development of AKI (KDIGO) in a mixed population of patients admitted to the ICU. Among the biomarkers measured plasma measurement of the HNL assay was independently related to the KDIGO-score
P-HNL (pab/mab3) an independent predictor of AKI in ICU
The superiority of P-HNL 8F in comparison to NGAL in predicting AKI and survival is illustrated by ROC-analysis
COVID sampling day 1
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Venge P, Xu S, Mårtensson J. HNL Dimer-A specific biomarker of neutrophil activity – in sepsis and antibiotic monitoring. A mini-review. Arch Clin Biomed Res 2022;6(1):145-52.
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POCMATE™
Make point-of-Care testing simple, fast and accurate
The POCMATE™ HNL applications are available For Research Use Only (FRUO) but will be available as IVDR diagnostic products during 2027.
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