How We Help Forecast the COVID-19 “Cytokine Storm”

Jul 7, 2020 by IDEX Health & Science

Until there is a vaccine or anti-viral medications for COVID-19, the treatment for hospitalized patients is to help alleviate their symptoms. One of the most severe and potentially life threatening symptoms of the COVID-19 virus is known as the cytokine release syndrome, or “cytokine storm.” This is when an infected patient’s immune system is induced to go into overdrive to attack the viral infection. The immune system can become uncontrolled and lead to multiple organ failure, which can be fatal.

We are rapidly increasing production of critical microfluidic consumables used by testing machines that detect the “cytokine storm” that often sends COVID-19 patients into a deadly downward spiral. One of our customers produces an immunoassay analyzer that allows physicians to rapidly monitor the progression of cytokine release in the body. This can help identify when to introduce potential therapies that can end the uncontrolled release of cytokines and allow for the recovery process to begin. The technology employed in this testing relies on microfluidic consumables produced at our facility in Wallingford, Connecticut.

When the COVID-19 crisis hit, the global medical community began to use our customer’s assay technology to track the disease progression in the most critically ill patients infected with the virus. This caused a dramatic increase in demand for our customer’s technology and the IDEX Health & Science microfluidic consumables that are at the heart of their analyzers. We have a long history of enabling technologies that have a direct impact on patient care. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this to light more than ever before. Clinical chemistry and immunoassay testing are a few of the many technologies we support and are vital to providing data to guide patient care.

This story is yet another example of how IDEX is playing a critical role in the fight against COVID-19. Our mission is now more than “Trusted Solutions, Improving Lives”, it is also very much about Saving Lives.

Learn More About Our Microfluidic Solutions for COVID-19 Testing