LONDON: EKF Diagnostics Holdings announced the launch of EKF Link, a digital connectivity solution for the secure management of point-of-care (“POC”) analysers and associated data on one centralised platform.
The EKF Link middleware links to EKF’s own product portfolio and can also provide connectivity to selected third-party POC analysers, to enable real-time remote management of data, such as patient test results, quality control (“QC”) /calibration results, operator management and analyser configuration.
EKF Link is a downloadable software package that allows POC analysers to connect to a hospital or laboratory’s IT system, enabling data transfer from these remote analysers for subsequent processing, thereby enhancing their capabilities. This provides hospitals, laboratories and clinicians with the connectivity and functionality to manage and evaluate their patient and operator data, easily and securely. It also allows the remote operators to capture patient information, perform a QC test, lock-out unauthorised users and transfer information directly into the laboratory information management system.
EKF’s portfolio of POC diagnostic devices includes its range of Hematology analysers: Hemo Control and DiaSpect Tm hemoglobin, as well as its Diabetes range of analysers: Quo-Lab and Quo-Test HbA1c. All of these can now be digitally connected from anywhere and securely accessed remotely at any time using EKF Link, compared to current methods whereby data generated from POC analysers are either kept as written records, printed out, or in some cases connected via Bluetooth or data cable.
The development and launch of EKF Link has been driven by customer demand and designed in partnership with hospital POC managers to ensure the software meets their specific needs. EKF Link provides the Company with improved competitive positioning for future POC contract tenders and new accounts, and increases the attractiveness of the EKF product portfolio to existing customers against currently available technologies.
Mike Salter, CEO, of EKF Diagnostics said: “As part of our strategy to enhance our POC analyser portfolio and technology offering, we are pleased to announce that we have successfully launched EKF Link enabling practitioners to analyse their patients’ results remotely, easily and securely. EKF Link provides our POC diagnostic devices with a connectivity advantage which positions us well for tenders and new accounts. This is particularly true in Europe and North America, where a connectivity solution is commonly a part of the specification. EKF Link has the added benefit that it can be installed wherever it is needed, on a PC or a central server, allowing hospitals and laboratories, technicians and clinicians to access results from various settings, reducing workload whilst increasing the security of handling patient data.
“This new product launch shows our responsiveness to our customer base and increasing demand for data management capabilities. It extends the utility of our installed instrument base and provides EKF with a key advantage for further new business opportunities.”