Randox joins Action Cancer in the fight against Colorectal Cancer

July 9, 2007 - PRLog -- International clinical diagnostics company Randox Laboratories has launched a partnership with Northern Ireland’s leading local cancer charity, Action Cancer, to raise public awareness of bowel cancer symptoms.

The world’s first automated biochip array platform has been developed by Randox Laboratories.  This innovative technology offers a revolutionary new DNA test for the detection of mutations associated with Colorectal Cancer.  The non-invasive test detects 28 mutations across 4 genes from a single patient stool sample without the need for dietary or medication changes.  Clinical validation of the new test is planned alongside the UK National Screening Programme this year.

A campaign to raise public awareness of bowel cancer symptoms is planned in advance of the bowel cancer screening programme in Northern Ireland due for introduction in 2009.  The programme was announced by Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer at an Action Cancer/DHSSPS Conference last Autumn.  Randox sponsored the conference and Dr Peter Fitzgerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories said: “Our link with Action Cancer is very natural because we are a local company that has developed a biochip array analyser that will revolutionise healthcare and aid in cancer detection”.

Bowel cancer is the third most common type of cancer in Northern Ireland with 1000 diagnoses and almost 500 deaths annually.  Affecting both men and women, bowel cancer is one of the most curable cancers if caught in time.  Emily Magrath, Health Promotion Manager for Action Cancer, said: “Many people do not realise how common bowel cancer is and, more importantly, that if they detect the symptoms early enough, and act on them, the chances of survival are very good.  Our mission is to save lives and we therefore felt it was very important to raise public awareness of bowel cancer and get it detected early.”

Randox is an international diagnostics company, headquartered in the UK. Throughout its 25 year operation, Randox has excelled in the design, manufacture and marketing of a vast range of high quality products for laboratory medicine.  Core products are: Biochip Array Technology; clinical chemistry analysers and reagents; quality controls and EQA; environmental diagnostics; recombinant proteins and antibodies.

Website: www.randox.com