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Bridgeport,
Connecticut, USA (December 9, 2003)…. Catachem, Inc. (Catachem, Private) today
announced the addition of the Ammonia (NH) in vitro diagnostic chemistry reagent
kit to Catachem’s in-vitro
chemistry products and services for human, veterinary and environmental
laboratories
Analysis
of blood ammonia (NH) aids in the diagnosis of severe liver diseases and helps
to monitor the course of these diseases. Ammonia levels are also helpful in the
diagnosis and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, a serious brain condition
caused by the accumulated toxins that result from liver disease and liver
failure. An ammonia test measures the amount of ammonia in the blood. Ammonia
results from the breakdown of protein in the body. Most ammonia in the body
forms when protein is broken down by bacteria in the intestinal tract. The liver
normally converts ammonia into urea, which is then eliminated in urine. Together
with the AST and the ALT, ammonia levels are often used to confirm a diagnosis
of Reye’s syndrome (a rare disorder usually seen in children and associated
with aspirin intake), which is characterized by brain and liver damage following
an upper respiratory tract infection, chickenpox, or influenza. If the liver is
unable to convert ammonia into urea (because of cirrhosis or severe hepatitis,
for instance), ammonia levels rise in the blood. When excess amounts of ammonia
build up in the blood, a person may show symptoms of abnormal brain function
(called encephalopathy), such as unclear thinking, extreme sleepiness, a
characteristic hand tremor (called asterixis or flapping tremor), or coma. This
test is done on a blood sample taken from a vein. Serum Ammonia
(high sensitivity) is a two reagent chemistry.
NH Kit CC122A. Benjamin
Twombly, Vice President Sales and Marketing, commented, “We are pleased to add
this assay to our expanding diagnostic and predictive services for our
customers.” Luis P. Leon,
President, commented, “We are focused on developing new chemistries to meet
our customer needs.” About
Catachem, Inc. Catachem
has a rich 20 year history in clinical chemistry as a manufacturer and
distributor of in-vitro chemistry products and services for human, veterinary
and environmental laboratories. Catachem chemists helped develop many of the
automated diagnostic chemistries widely in use today. Catachem created the DiscretePak™
and VetSpec™ line of reagents
for human and veterinary automated analyzers.
Catachem offers FDA approved (510K) chemistries (liquid and dry)
including enzymatic chemistries developed in conjunction with IFCC and CDC.
Catachem has more than 500 applications for all types of analyzers
including the Roche™, Hitachi™, Olympus™,
AU Series™, RA Series™, Opera™,
DAX™, Bayer™, Advia™,
Synchron™, Beckman™, Abbott™
and many other analyzers. Corporate
headquarters, research, custom formulation laboratories, and manufacturing are
located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Catachem
supplies leading laboratories and equipment manufacturers from distributors
around the world. Forward-looking
statements in this release are made pursuant to the ``safe harbor'' provision of
the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the
results of research and development efforts, the effect of regulation by the
United States Food and Drug Administration and other agencies, the impact of
competitive products, product development commercialization and
technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the Company's
periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Keywords:
Catachem, Chemistry, Reagents, In-Vitro Diagnostics, IVD, Ammonia, NH For
more information contact: Benjamin Twombly Catachem
chemistries include: 5'-Nucleotidase (5NT), Adenosine Deaminase (ADA), Alanine
Aminotransferase (ALT), Albumin BCG (ALB), a-L-Fucosidase (AFU), Alkaline
Phosphatase (ALP), Ammonia (NH), Amylase (AMY), Aspartate Aminotransferase
(ALP), β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), Bicarbonate (HC03), Bile Acids (BA),
Bilirubin, Direct with Blank (DBILI), Bilirubin, Total with Blank (TBILI),
Bilirubin, Total (TBILI), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Bromide (BR), CO2 [340]
(CO2), CO2 [380] (CO2), CO2 [single reagent] (CO2), Ca+++ Arsenazo [650NM]
(CA3), Chloride [340 NM] (CL), Cholesterol (CH), Creatine Kinase (CK),
Creatinine (CREAT), Fructosamine [millimole method] (FR), Fructosamine, Glycated
Serum Protein [enzymatic] (FR), Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT), Glucose
Hexokinase (GLU), Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), High Density Lipoproteins,
Dextran Sulfate (HDL), Inorganic Phosphorus (IP), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD),
Lipase (LIP), Lithium [enzymatic] (LI), Magnesium (MG), N-Acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase
(NAG), Potassium [enzymatic] (K), Plasma Free Hemoglobin (PFH), Pre-albumin (TBPA),
Sodium [enzymatic] (NA), Sorbitol Dehydrogenase (SDH), Thiopurine
methyltransferase (TPMT), Total Bile Acids (TBA), Total Iron (TI), Total Protein
(TP), Triglycerides (TRIG), UIBC and TIBC (UIBC), Uric Acid (UA), Vitamin B6
(V6B), Multipoint Calibrator Catacal, Catatrol Level 1 Catatrol Level 2, Bile
Acids Control, Bile Acids Calibrator, BHBA Calibrator, BHBA Control Level 1,
BHBA Control Level 2; Bromide Calibrator, BR Control Level 1, BR Control Level
2; Fructosamine Calibrator, FR Control Level 1, FR Control Level 2, SDH Control
Level 1, SDH Control Level 2. Call
+1 (203) 335-9277 or Write Catachem@aol.com. |
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