Dr. Peter Fitzgerald

Tell us about your expertise in the laboratory sector with a brief about your organisation, its initiatives, and the journey to date.

Randox’s core business involves the global provision of analysers and consumable materials to healthcare laboratories, for the analysis of blood and other sample types. Randox has developed a range of analyser systems, including clinical chemistry, immunoassay, and molecular analysis, alongside the supporting reagents. Randox also provides both internal quality control and external quality assurance materials, which are essential to confirm the accuracy and precision of laboratory results. This enables accurate diagnosis by clinicians. We remain committed to improving healthcare worldwide, using innovative diagnostic technologies.

We understand that more accurate, sensitive, and reliable processes will lead to earlier diagnosis, producing improved health outcomes at reduced cost and we know that the laboratory is key to improving healthcare systems in the future and our clinical product offering – includes diagnostic reagents, quality control and PT systems alongside a range of clinical chemistry, immunoassay, and PCR testing.

In your opinion, what areas in the laboratory sector are expected to evolve and what role is your organisation expected to play?

Our solutions in the sector of laboratory quality management, in particular our RIQAS EQ/ PT programmes and internal quality control materials are very popular, and this area of interest is likely to continue and expand over time. We have also recently a new version of our 24-7 QC software, which enables laboratories to review and interpret their QC results in real-time, as well as compare themselves to other labs around the world using the same equipment.

Also, conveniently timed before the COVID-19 pandemic, Randox expanded its EQA and QC portfolio to include coverage of PCR techniques for infectious diseases via the QCMD and Qnostics brands. QCMD has over 100 programmes for EQA, and Qnostics covers a wide range of QC, linearity, and validations kit material to assist labs with validating and monitoring their PCR assays.

We have found that these products have been especially useful in the post-pandemic era, as labs are now seeking to utilise additional PCR equipment, they brought during COVID-19 by expanding their PCR test menu beyond respiratory diseases, (e.g., to cover areas such as tuberculosis, STDs, gastrointestinal etc.)

Give us an insight into your portfolio and solutions targeted at the Middle East region.

Randox has subsequently committed significant resources to R&D and has revitalised the range if high-quality internal quality controls and external quality assurance that is available to laboratories. We are proud to bring these world-leading capabilities to Medlab Middle East. Randox invests heavily in R&D – including in the clinical, engineering and software disciplines – returning up to 25% of turnover to related projects. This has facilitated the development of unique Randox Biochip Array Technology, which enables multiple tests to be run simultaneously from a single undivided sample, thus providing much greater diagnostic insights than ever before. Biochip technology enables advanced human and veterinary testing and has seen Randox develop markets in toxicology and food safety analysis. Randox also understands the importance of innovation and has adopted processes to achieve and maintain maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Tell us about your recent and upcoming investments and partnerships.

Randox remains focused on growth within the global laboratory market and is committed to supporting laboratories to improve their accuracy, precision, and responsiveness to improve healthcare outcomes. A key focus within Randox is our commitment to R&D, ensuring that we develop and produce market-leading products. Over the last few years, the focus has intensified, and we are launching more new products to market than ever before. Over the next 12-18 months, we expect to see this accelerate even further as we continue to launch products that customers are requesting.

At Randox, we have always put a lot of emphasis on building long-term customer relationships. We always view ourselves as a partner to our customers rather than simply a supplier. As part of this relationship, we provide extensive training opportunities for our customers and distribution partners. Throughout 2024, we are hosting more local, regional, and international training events than ever before. These events are a great opportunity to provide training and a fantastic face-to-face platform for us to discuss market-related trends, demand for new diagnostic products and other general feedback from our valued customer base.

What can visitors expect to see at your booth in Medlab Middle East 2024? What opportunities are you looking forward to?

Showcasing this year at Medlab Middle East 2024, Randox is proud to present several new Acusera Quality Controls. Quality Control is our passion; we believe in producing high-quality material that can help streamline procedures, whilst saving time and money for laboratories of all sizes and budgets. With an extensive product offering comprising third-party quality controls and calibrators, interlaboratory data management, external quality assessment, calibration verification and molecular IQC and EQA for infectious disease testing, you can count on Randox to deliver trustworthy results repeatedly. Just ask one of our 60,000 users worldwide.

Offering laboratories with complete consolidation, commutability, accurate target values and extensive shelf life, new additions to the Randox Acusera range of controls including Active B12, AMH, BNP, Bone Markers, Pre-Eclampsia, Serum Indices, Ultra-Low PSA and Xanthochromia.

The Middle East is a dynamic market, agile in nature, with an understanding of the need for innovation in improving patient well-being and healthcare outcomes. This innovative approach is evidenced within laboratories and in healthcare more generally where modern technologies are rapidly being adopted. Outside the laboratory setting, there are a great number of quality point-of-care devices that allow patients to be diagnosed more conveniently and closer to the point of need.

As Randox is continually developing modern technologies with the ability to early patient diagnosis and prevention, the Middle East is a region with exciting potential. As always, Medlab Middle East provides a fantastic opportunity to meet with current and potential end users and distributors across the region (and beyond). It also gives us a forum to meet with B2B clients who are also present as other exhibitors or delegates. Increasing awareness of our brand and portfolio across the Middle East is always a core aim. 

Please tell us about your plans for the year 2024.

One key focus for Randox is the improvement of therapeutic intervention through a novel testing panel utilising the capabilities of our patented Biochip technology. Clinical panel development is well underway for the Evidence MultiSTAT which includes the Stroke array to complement and enhance CT scanning technology to facilitate accurate classification of stroke patients within 30 minutes. ARDS is another panel for the stratification of hypo and hyper-inflammatory sub-phenotypes in ARDS patients within 36 minutes. Further work is underway to improve the assessment of cytokine toxicity in patients, with a rapid turnaround time.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Randox is committed to improving healthcare globally. The company remains at the forefront of the advanced diagnostics sector which it believes is crucial to improving health outcomes while relieving the strains and costs which currently inhibit the provision of healthcare.