Products: PointCare NOW™

• Fully automated – No manual steps for pipetting, incubation, vortexing, etc.
• All essential parameters in one test – Total WBC count, haemoglobin, four-part haematology differential, CD4 count and CD4 %
• Results in 8 minutes – No loss to follow-up; patients can be tested and treated in a single visit
• Simple ordering and logistics – All reagents and supplies in a single unrefrigerated box
• Simple supply chain management and storage – No cold chain, no refrigeration, no light sensitivity and long shelf life
• Flexible power options – UPS, Battery Pack and Solar Panel for extended battery life and battery recharge
• Safe to Use – Capped tube sampling; no exposure to contaminated blood
• Automated data analysis – No manual gating or interpretation of data
• Mobile – Operational for patient sample in 20 minutes after transport
• Contained hazardous waste – Closed waste handling system including decontamination for safe disposal
• Barcode reader and labels – For sample tracking and reagent management
• Data Storage –8,000 patient records on-board; 50,000 patient records transferable to USB
• Software menu languages – English, French, Spanish and Portuguese (others may be added)
• Calibration – Factory calibrated; does not require gain adjustments or colour compensation
• No Laser – Solid state; inexpensive maintenance

• Universal Access – The NOW™ is designed specifically to meet the needs of patients in decentralized settings.  Allows everyone access to essential haematology and HIV-immune monitoring no matter where they live.
• No Loss to Follow-Up – Virtually 100% of test results delivered at time of first patient visit.  Instead of visiting the clinic to be tested, and then returning another day for their results, patients only need to visit once for rapid one-stop testing and diagnostic results, and immediate counselling and treatment.
• Simple Ordering and Logistics - All reagents and supplies in a single unrefrigerated box.  Heat-stable, long shelf-life reagents eliminate the considerable hidden costs of cold-chain shipping and refrigerated storage.
• Improved Operator Safety – This fully enclosed, automated system with closed-cap sampling offers significant bio-safety features over other available haematology systems.
• Mobile – To reach more HIV patients you can set up the PointCare NOW™ at different locations on a daily or weekly basis so it is always where it is needed.
• Easy to Use – Almost anyone can operate this innovative, fully automated solution with minimal training.

Results Provided	CD4 Absolute Count and CD4% Total White Blood Cell (WBC) Count Haemoglobin Lymphocyte Count and Percent Monocyte Count and Percent Neutrophil Count and Percent Eosinophil Count and Percent
Test Speed	Complete results in 8 minutes
Data Storage	Over 8,000 sets of results onboard, expandable with USB connection to other storage systems
Quality Control (QC)	Levey-Jennings plots are automatically generated; Daily Check, Haematology and CD4 with 2 levels each; log for QC data recorded as mean, SD and CV
Dimensions (HxWxD)	35.4 x 25.0 x 33.7 cm (13.9 x 9.8 x 13.3 inch)
Weight	Under 12 kg (26.5 lb)
Power Source	Compatible with most supplies including AC and DC; requires only 150 Watts.  Can operate from Battery Pack with Solar Panel for charging and operating time extension
Reagent Stability	CD4NOW™ reagents are insensitive to light and do not require cold chain shipment.  See CD4NOW Reagent Kit 100 for more information.
Maintenance	A single service contract covers the system maintenance; the LED is long lasting and shipped with permanent alignment
Sample Requirements	One standard K2 EDTA Vacutainer® tube of whole blood, filled to full capacity

PointCare NOW™ has received FDA clearance.

• Where is this solution designed to be used?

In a low-to-medium throughput clinic or mobile facility, typically in
resource-limited regions

• Which tests does this solution perform?

The essential haematology parameters for effective medical
decision-making and those parameters needed in HIV patient care:

• CD4 Absolute Count and CD4%
• Total White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
• Haemoglobin
• Lymphocyte Count and Percent
• Monocyte Count and Percent
• Neutrophil Count and Percent
• Eosinophil Count and Percent

• How many patient samples can be handled concurrently?

Only one patient sample can be tested at a time.

• How long does it take to get a set of results?

Less than 8 minutes

• How many patient records can be stored?

8,000 patient records on the instrument, expandable to 50,000
patient records with a supplied USB memory stick

• How much blood is required for all the tests per patient?

Blood volume of no less than 0.5 mL (millilitres) in the tube;
uses only 40 µL (microlitres) for sample analysis.  Blood tube
must be drawn to full capacity.

• What method must the phlebotomist use to draw blood?

The phlebotomist must collect the sample into a closed-cap K2
EDTA Vacutainer style tube.  Syringe draws are not allowed and
no other type of tube may be used.  All required phlebotomy
equipment is included in the CD4NOW™ Reagent Kit 100.

• How much training is required to operate the PointCare NOW™?

Minimal technical training is required.  Please contact PointCare
for details of our operator training programme.

• What are the operator risks?

There are minimal operator risks.  The testing procedure
starts and ends with a single closed-cap sample – the operator
is not exposed to the bio-hazard of handling open blood tubes,
manipulating caps and pipettes, nor incubating and reloading
samples.  No manual sample preparation or sample handling
is required.

• What supplies are required, and how can I order new supplies?

All supplies required are included in the CD4NOW Reagent Kit
100 (P/N 36000).  To order new supplies, please contact your local
distributor or PointCare.

• What are the “hidden savings” of the PointCare supplies management system?

PointCare customers report savings from a number of areas:

• No reagent spoilage.  PointCare’s heat-stable reagents are stable to 42° Celsius, and can handle short periods of high temperatures.
• No loss to follow-up:  customers report they eliminate the 20 – 40% loss to follow-up they experienced with other CD4 systems.
• Lower operating costs:  no laser to replace, and substantially more up-time.
• No cost to provide cold chain.

• How and where must I store and manage new supplies?

You can store your reagents without refrigeration, and they are
not light sensitive. 

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