Colorectal cancer is among the most common cancers. The number of new cases in the UK alone is around 42,000 a year; worldwide, approximately 1.4 million people are currently affected by colorectal cancer. If detected at an early stage, the chances of recovery exceed 90 percent. An early diagnosis is therefore one of the most important factors for a good prognosis. Rapid tests for occult (invisible) blood in stool samples are a simple and reliable aid for early diagnosis. nal von minden GmbH, a medical technology company from Moers (Germany), has now developed a quantitative rapid test for colorectal cancer screening: it is now possible to establish whether and how much fecal occult blood is present in a sample of feces. The NADAL FOB Quant Test can be evaluated using the ‘Colibri’, the smallest test device in the world, and is available now.

The sooner colorectal cancer is detected, the better the chances of recovery. A new rapid test from the medical technology company nal von minden GmbH from Moers (Germany) can be used to support its early diagnosis. Roland Meißner, CEO of nal von minden GmbH says: “The NADAL FOB Quant Test detects even the smallest amounts of blood in stool samples – this is the so-called fecal occult blood (FOB), which cannot be seen with the naked eye . Since colorectal cancers and their precursors often cause bleeding, the FOB Rapid Test Cassette can provide insight into hidden sources of bleeding in the intestinal region. The rapid test is therefore ideal for early screening for possible colorectal cancer and can in turn reduce the risk of death.

The special and unique features of the NADAL FOB quant test: The rapid test not only shows whether fecal-occult blood has been found in the stool sample, but also indicates how much is present. Meißner explains: “Until now, rapid tests were purely qualitative in nature. We were able to add quantity to the qualitative test by making it compatible with our testing device, the Colibri. »

« The NADAL FOB Quant test is suitable for screening risk groups, » says Meißner. These include, for example, symptom-free patients who have an increased risk of colorectal cancer due to their age, or those with a known history of colorectal cancer in the family.

Benefits for patients: The NADAL FOB Quant test is non-invasive. « Our new rapid test will increase the willingness of many people to deal with the issue of colorectal cancer screening, » hopes Meißner. « That’s because it’s probably easier to give consent for a rapid test than for a colonoscopy. » Also, the result is available very quickly. The patient receives the results in just five minutes. Meißner adds: « Until now, such stool samples had to be evaluated in the laboratory, which usually takes several days. » The costs for this are undoubtedly even higher than for a rapid test.

Roland Meißner points out that colonoscopy is still the « gold standard » for diagnosing colorectal cancer. The problem, however, is that this cancer usually causes no symptoms or almost no symptoms in its early stages. As a result, many people only go to the doctor very late, but by then valuable time has often already been lost.

The NADAL FOB quantitative test is based on an antibody reaction to human hemoglobin present in the blood. Meißner: « These are special antibodies that respond exclusively to human blood. If blood is present in a stool sample, the antibodies bind to the red dye hemoglobin contained within. » The measuring range is 20 to 750 ng/mL (corresponding to approximately 2-75 μg hemoglobin/g stool). This allows the doctor to recommend a course of action, depending on the patient’s age and gender. « The higher the stool hemoglobin value, the more urgently a colonoscopy is recommended for clarification, » explains Meißner.

Quantitative measurement and evaluation of test results can be done using the smallest rapid test analysis device in the world: the Colibri. « The cube-shaped Colibri is only 4×4 cm wide and is the optimal tool for automated and quantitative analyses, » says Meißner. “It delivers fast and accurate results and is a cost-effective solution for any general practice. Data can be transferred and documented to a PC using a USB cable. »

The NADAL FOB Quant test was developed at the nal von minden research and production site in Göttingen. It should only be performed by trained medical personnel. The test is easy to use and requires no specific training.

Cost of the NADAL FOB quant test cassette: 5 euros per test
Cost of the Colibri analysis device: 499 euros
www.nal-vonminden.com

Company information
nal von minden GmbH. nal von minden GmbH from Moers (Germany) has been a specialist in the field of medical diagnostics for 38 years. Their portfolio includes rapid tests and laboratory tests for reliable diagnoses in the fields of bacteriology, cardiology, gynecology, infectious diseases, urology and toxicology. nal von minden GmbH has around 230 employees at 9 locations across Europe. www.nal-vonminden.com

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