article30 Jul 2009 21:48
For those who fancy something a bit more adventurous, however, Akers Biosciences is well worth a second look.
The company has pioneered a number of exciting medical products, which have enormous potential, can be easily used and are reasonably cheap for customers to buy.
One of Akers' most advanced products is a device that can quickly test whether patients are allergic to the anti-blood-clotting drug Heparin. This drug is used on 25 million people each year, before they undertake long operations, but up to 8% of patients are thought to be allergic to it. Until now, the only way of testing for Heparin allergy has been in a laboratory - a procedure that can take up to 48 hours and costs around £100 to do. Akers' test costs about £30 and, even more importantly, it can be done instantly.
Heparin allergy was not widely known until recently but awareness is growing as it can cause severe reactions - so much so that four million people demanded a laboratory test before undergoing surgery last year. Akers is hoping doctors and hospitals around the world will take up its testing device and initial signs are encouraging.
The company has also developed a breathalyser kit that is so small it can be attached to a key-ring. The device has proved particularly attractive to the US military. Any member of the American armed forces caught driving while over the limit is automatically dismissed from office and, as it takes at least two years and costs around £500,0