Technical
No diet restrictions
The monoclonal antibodies in the test are directed to human hemoglobin and do not cross-react with hemoglobin from other species. As a consequence, no diet restrictions are necessary prior to sample collection.
Sample collection
The patients can collect the samples at the privacy of their home. After collection, the sample can be stored for up to 1 week at +2-25 °C before testing. Hemoglobin in an unsuspended primary sample may become rapidly degraded, and therefore the sample suspension should be prepared as soon as possible after sample collection. If immediate preparation is not possible, the primary sample can be stored up to 8 hours in the refrigerator.
Storage
The kit can be stored at +2-25 °C. Please note that if you store the kit in the refrigerator, the components need to reach room temperature before testing. The dipsticks must be used within 4 months after the tube has been opened for the first time.
| Storage of the components | Unopened | Opened |
| Dipstick tube | until expiry date | 4 months |
| Buffer tubes | until expiry date |
Hygienic testing
The performance of the test is hygienic, because the sample tube does not need to be opened for testing. This is possible because the test device has been designed so that the dipstick perforates the sampling tube cap.
Easy test performance
The dipstick is inside a sharp-tipped perforating device. The cap of the sample tube is perforated with this device and the test is performed by slowly inverting the tube upside down and back into an upright position within approximately 2 seconds (see pictures). The results are available within 10 minutes.
Perforate the cap of the test tube with the perforating device.
Slowly invert the test tube...
..upside down...
...and return it back to an upright position.