NEW YORK (360Dx) – Ortho Clinical Diagnostics said today that it has entered an agreement with Sentinel Diagnostics for distribution and promotion of Sentinel's CRP Ultra (MP) wide-range C-reactive protein assay.
Ortho said that it will initially launch the assay, an immuno-turbidimetric test that measures CRP in serum or plasma, in North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The agreement is part of an ongoing MicroTip Partnership Assays program through which Ortho collaborates with other diagnostic companies to deliver a range of assays to hospitals, hospital networks, and labs that use its Vitros 4600 Chemistry System and Vitros 5600 Integrated System.
The assay combines low-end sensitivity with a wide linear range and extended stability, Ortho said.
Blood levels of C-reactive protein rise in response to inflammation, and clinicians use the marker to monitor patient responses to surgery and drug therapy, and to detect infection and other sources of inflammation.