Partnership to Enhance Diagnostic Capabilities for AKI

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics Inc. and SphingoTec GmbH have entered a partnership to bring an assay for SphingoTec’s kidney function biomarker, Proenkephalin 119-159 (penKid), to Beckman Coulter’s test menu for use on the Access Family of Immunoassay Analyzers.

Under the agreement, Beckman Coulter will develop and validate a fully automated diagnostic test for penKid, leveraging SphingoTec’s IVD-certified assay. The move is expected to greatly enhance diagnostic capabilities for acute kidney injury (AKI) by leveraging Beckman Coulter’s global installed base of instruments.

PenKid is a real-time biomarker in plasma designed to address gaps in the standard diagnostic practices for AKI, particularly in critical care environments. The partnership will facilitate the high-throughput availability of penKid assays in central laboratories, supporting critical care physicians with the ability for timely and precise kidney health assessment.