At the recent South-Eastern European Emergency Medicine Congress held at the Palace of Parliament, Bucharest Romania in May 2024; our CEO, Jarno Verso delivered an encouraging speech. In his presentation, he urged professionals to think about the profound difference that Albio could make in their everyday work.
Take a little time to read the full speech and learn how Albio helps healthcare experts save lives in situations when every second counts.
“Today, we explore a theme that resonates deeply with each one of us here: ‘Saving Time and Lives.’ This is not just the title of our discussion but the driving force behind our innovation. We are all too familiar with the critical role that time plays in emergency medical care—how minutes, even seconds, can mean the difference between recovery and deterioration. As we delve into today’s presentation, I will demonstrate how Albio™ is transforming emergency medical practices by providing faster, more reliable diagnostic tools that directly impact patient care outcomes. Our goal is clear — to enhance the ability of emergency professionals like yourselves to make informed decisions quickly, ultimately saving time and lives.
In the critical realm of emergency medicine, traditional methods of assessing blood alcohol levels have significant limitations that can hinder effective patient care. One of the most common tools, the breathalyzer, requires active cooperation of the patient to produce a result. This requirement poses a considerable challenge in emergency settings with trauma patients and unconscious patients. Studies indicate that a significant percentage of trauma patients are affected by alcohol. For example, research from the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, suggests that up to 40% of trauma patients admitted to emergency departments have alcohol in their system. This underscores the need for a method of alcohol detection that does not rely on patient cooperation. Moreover, the use of breathalyzers is fraught with difficulties in cases of trauma. The physical inability to blow into the device due to injuries, or the mental incapacitation from head trauma or shock, renders this tool impractical. This is not merely inconvenient; it directly impacts the speed and accuracy of diagnosis and treatment.
Turning to lab tests, while they provide accurate results, they are not without their own significant drawbacks when it comes to emergency medicine. The primary issue is the time delay — lab results can take hours, a delay that is compounded in rural or underserved areas where laboratory facilities may be distant or unavailable. This delay in obtaining crucial diagnostic information can be critical. It not only stalls immediate treatment decisions but also affects the overall flow and efficiency of emergency medical services. Furthermore, in the urgent context of emergency care, every minute counts. A study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal highlighted that delays in treatment initiation due to waiting for lab results are associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates in acute cases. This is especially important for conditions made worse by alcohol use, where quick and specific actions are often needed to prevent more problems. Briefly put, the current tools at our disposal are insufficiently equipped to handle the demands of modern emergency medicine. They fail to offer the speed and reliability required to manage intoxicated patients effectively, especially in high-stakes environments where rapid decision-making is paramount. In response to the critical challenges associated with traditional alcohol testing methods, I am pleased to introduce Albio™.
Albio is the world’s first and only rapid blood alcohol testing system. Developed by PAL Finland, Albio™ addresses the inefficiencies of previous technologies by providing an indispensable solution for emergency medical care. Albio™ revolutionizes how we test for alcohol in emergency situations by delivering blood alcohol content readings in just 25 seconds with an impressive 98,3% accuracy rate. This speed and reliability are vital in environments where every second affects patient outcomes. Moreover, Albio™ is renowned for its robustness—think of it as the Nokia phone of blood alcohol testing devices—nearly indestructible, capable of withstanding the harsh conditions often found in emergency settings. Its design so that it doesn’t need routine maintenance or calibration, making it an ideal tool for all emergency medical professionals, regardless of location. By incorporating Albio™ into their toolkit, medical personnel are equipped with a state-of-the-art device that enhances their ability to make swift, informed decisions crucial in managing alcohol-related emergencies efficiently.
Immediate access to accurate blood alcohol levels is crucial. For instance, in a study conducted at the University of Munich by Dr. Schmidt and his team, found that alcohol can significantly alter the clinical management of trauma patients, affecting both the metabolism of drugs and the assessment of neurological symptoms. Albio™ offers a solution by providing rapid, accurate alcohol level assessments, ensuring that medical staff can quickly distinguish between intoxication symptoms and other medical emergencies, such as strokes or head injuries. Another study from the Toronto General Hospital by Dr. Reynolds showed that patients under the influence of alcohol are often treated with dosages of medications that do not account for their impaired metabolism, leading to either suboptimal efficacy or increased toxicity. With Albio™, emergency medical teams can adjust dosages accurately and safely, tailoring interventions to individual patient needs based on reliable data.
Implementing Albio™ in emergency medical settings not only enhances patient care but also brings substantial economic and operational advantages. At a market retail price of approximately €5 per test, Albio™ is more cost-effective compared to traditional laboratory analyses and even many breathalyzer tests, which can range significantly higher in price, especially when considering the total cost of operation including equipment, maintenance, and the time value of healthcare professionals.
- Cost Efficiency: The affordability of Albio™ tests represents a significant reduction in direct costs. For instance, traditional lab tests for blood alcohol content can cost between €10 and €40, depending not only on the test itself but also on associated lab fees and the logistical costs of transporting samples. Additionally, these tests often require expensive lab equipment and highly trained personnel. In contrast, Albio™ can be administered on-site by existing medical staff without the need for specialized lab infrastructure.
- Operational Efficiency: Beyond the cost savings, Albio™ greatly enhances operational efficiency. The rapid results from Albio™ reduce the waiting time for decision-making in critical care scenarios. This efficiency not only speeds up the treatment for the individual patient but also improves the throughput in emergency departments and trauma centers. Faster processing of patients leads to better resource allocation, allowing more patients to be treated with the same or even fewer resources.
- Reduced Dependency on Laboratory Services: By minimizing the reliance on external laboratory services, which can be particularly impactful in rural or underserved areas, Albio™ ensures that emergency medical care is not delayed due to logistical challenges. This is especially crucial in locations where access to fully equipped medical labs is limited, and the transport of samples might introduce significant delays.
- Overall Savings: Moreover, the simplicity and reliability of Albio™ mean that hospitals and emergency services can also see a reduction in indirect costs such as those associated with delayed treatments, which can often escalate the complexity and cost of care. For example, early and accurate identification of alcohol intoxication can prevent inappropriate treatment plans that may not only be ineffective but could potentially harm the patient and lead to costly corrective measures.
The introduction of Albio™ not only represents a breakthrough in medical technology but also a wise economic and operational investment for medical facilities. By streamlining diagnostics and treatment, Albio™ contributes to a more efficient and effective healthcare system. To encapsulate the real-world effectiveness of Albio™, here’s a direct quote from a team leader: ‘Albio™ has changed how we approach nearly every case where alcohol could be a factor. It’s not just about speed; it’s about how much more effectively we can treat our patients when we know exactly what we’re dealing with.’ This sentiment is echoed by many others who have adopted this innovative tool in their medical practices.” I have another example to share from a paramedic team. They encountered a case where a patient exhibited signs of a stroke but also smelled of alcohol. Using Albio™, they were able to confirm that the patient was not intoxicated within seconds. This rapid confirmation allowed them to proceed directly with stroke treatment without the usual delays associated with lab tests. The team leader shared, ‘Albio™ has fundamentally changed how we approach emergency cases involving alcohol. The speed and accuracy mean we can treat patients more effectively and with greater confidence.
In summary, Albio™ is more than just a technological innovation; it represents a critical advancement in emergency medical care, enhancing our ability to make life-saving decisions swiftly and accurately. I encourage each of you to consider how Albio™ could revolutionize emergency response in your own practice. Imagine the time and lives that could be saved and the outcomes that could be improved with such a tool at your disposal.”
