University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: June 7, 2007

By CYNTHIA MACHAMER
Reporter Contributor

An AxSYM immunoassay analyzer funded through a grant from Abbott Diagnostics will help the Medical Technology Program at UB train the next generation of clinical laboratory science practitioners with state-of-the-art skills and knowledge.

A junior-year medical technology student prepares clinical samples for patient thyroid-function testing on the AxSYM immunochemistry analyzer, funded through a grant from Abbott Diagnostics.

The analyzer is valued at $127,000. The grant through Abbott's Instrument Donation Program also includes an estimated $30,000 a year in supplies and equipment support for multiple years. UB's Medical Technology Program is part of the Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

UB was selected from among 102 applicants to Abbott's Instrument Donation Program to be one of 16 universities and colleges to be awarded a "Labs Are Vital" grant. The equipment was provided through Abbott Diagnostics' "Labs are Vital" program, a multipronged, multiyear education-and-awareness initiative designed to highlight the critical role that laboratory medicine plays in human health.

"We are delighted and excited about Abbott Diagnostics' commitment to the future of clinical laboratory science professions," said Robert L. Klick, associate professor and director of the Medical Technology Program.

He explained that the analyzer will allow faculty to incorporate current technologies and instrumentation at several points in the curriculum. "The AxSYM immunoassay system will allow the introduction of third-generation immunoassay technologies in clinical immunology and clinical chemistry throughout [students'] junior year," Klick said.

He said students will use the instrument for testing infectious agents, such as cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis; to analyze tumor markers; to enable an understanding of both the complexity of disease pathophysiology and the sophistication of the immunochemistry and intricacy of instrumental engineering and operational features; and to test for thyroid function, therapeutic drug monitoring, toxicology, biomarkers of myocardial injury and iron metabolism.

"The addition of this instrument represents a quantum leap forward in the level of applied laboratory technology, training and educational experience available for medical technology students at UB," Klick said.

"We are grateful to Abbott Diagnostics for recognizing the acute need to increase both the number of graduates and quality of medical technology training and for making this grant opportunity available to benefit the delivery of laboratory medicine in the nation."

Don Patton, vice president of Abbott's global diagnostic commercial operations, noted Abbott's "Labs are Vital" program addresses the need to train and support the next generation of laboratory professionals on high-tech, real-world equipment. "Our nation's clinical laboratories are facing a critical shortage of qualified laboratory personnel," Patton said. "Providing educational programs with additional resources to train future laboratorians through programs at universities like UB is a first step for us to help."

Abbott Diagnostics is a global leader in in vitro diagnostics and offers a broad range of innovative instrument systems and tests for hospitals, reference labs, blood banks, physician offices and clinics.