In the world of emergency medicine, where every second counts, Albio™ emerges as a transformative tool designed explicitly for paramedics and Emergency Department (ED) professionals. This groundbreaking innovation delivers rapid and accurate insights into a patient’s blood alcohol level, empowering healthcare providers to make crucial, life-saving decisions regarding treatment and medication.
Addressing Critical Alcohol-Related Challenges
Alcohol stands as the most prevalent drug worldwide, with more than 45% of ED patients affected by its influence. However, the impact of alcohol on treatment methods and medications cannot be overlooked. Until now, obtaining reliable blood alcohol level information for an unconscious patient required time-consuming clinical lab tests—a process both costly and lacking the necessary portable instruments and skills available in ambulances. The knowledge of blood alcohol levels is crucial, especially concerning medications like painkillers, which can interact with alcohol, necessitating accurate dosage adjustments.
Time is Critical: The Role of Albio™ in Emergency Situations
In scenarios such as suspected brain strokes, symptoms resembling alcohol intoxication can mislead diagnosis, particularly when patients exude the scent of alcohol. Time sensitivity in such cases is paramount. Transporting patients and conducting clinical lab tests in rural areas or during peak hours can prolong the wait for essential treatment by hours.
Albio™ addresses this critical gap by delivering reliable results within 25 seconds, without requiring specialized skills or expensive instruments. This rapid assessment not only expedites treatment but also aids in accurate diagnoses, benefitting both medical professionals and patients alike.
Economic Impact and Efficiency Gains with Albio™
The economic impact of Albio™ is significant. Tests conducted with Albio™ can be 10 to 40 times more cost-effective than current methods, potentially saving over hundred euros per test. Beyond direct cost savings, Albio™ reduces unnecessary ambulance emergency rides, minimizes staff workload in laboratories, and eliminates the need for expensive meter calibrations, as it easily calibrates through a code card from the strip vial into the meter.
Advancements Beyond Current Methods
Contrasting with breathalyzers—the sole alcohol detectors in ambulances—Albio™ introduces a paradigm shift in alcohol level assessment. Unlike breathalyzers, Albio doesn’t require patient cooperation to take measurements, making it easy to use with intoxicated, unconscious, and trauma patients. Breathalyzers, affected by recent drinking, smoking, and even residues in the mouth, lack the accuracy required for critical medical decisions. Albio™, an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical device, meets international standards and authorities’ rigorous requirements. Its design ensures functionality even in challenging field conditions, surpassing the limitations of existing methods.
Albio™ isn’t just a device; it’s a transformative solution empowering healthcare providers with swift and precise blood alcohol level measurements, fundamentally changing the landscape of emergency care.
Please note: Albio™ is intended for professional use by trained medical personnel and is intended for supplemental use alongside clinical observations and other diagnostic procedures.
For further inquiries about Albio™ or to explore its benefits firsthand, connect with PAL Finland or their authorized regional distributors.
Jarno Verso, Chief Business Development Officer at Pal Finland
