Lincoln Diagnostics

Lincoln Diagnostics is a USA-based manufacturing company that focuses exclusively on the development & manufacture & global supply of plastic Skin Prick Test Lancets.

Please see www.lincolndiagnostics.com for more information

The following Lincoln SPT lancet systems are now available :

“DuoTip II”

DuoTip II is a plastic lancet, like a matchstick, with two points at the end; hence the name DuoTip. DuoTip II is the best Lincoln SPT lancet system for obtaining maximum possible economy of SPT testing. DuoTip II consumes just 6-10 microlitre reagent per SPT, compared to 40ul for traditional SPT. This leads to an ~80% reduction in SPT reagent consumption and reagent costs.

Each Tray has 40 wells, with a lid over the tray. Each well can be filled with up to 0.2ml (= 5drops) added from the SPT vial dropper. The Wells are labelled to identify the relevant allergen. When the DuoTip II lancet is removed from the well, there will be a small meniscus of the glycerine-based SPT reagent held between the two tips of the lancet. That volume of reagent is 6-10 microlitres.

The test technique is not the traditional “push & retract” or the “prick & lift” of the standard metal lancet but instead a “twist” between thumb and finger, whilst applying minimal down-pressure

Please see http://lincolndiagnostics.com/products/duotip-test-ii/ for product information and http://lincolndiagnostics.com/products/duotip-test/instructions for video demonstrations.

“UniTest PC”

“UniTest PC” is the most flexible and cost saving Lincoln SPT lancet system, which is especially suited for use with children & babies. UniTest PC consumes approx. 10-15 microlitre of reagent consumption per SPT, compared to 40ul for traditional SPT, so ~70% reduction in SPT reagent consumption and costs.

Fast testing with the “push” technique of the white plastic lancets from the 40 well Tray. It can be used alone, or as a compliment to the Lincoln MultiTest PC., by adding the option of flexibility of testing.

The test technique is the familiar “push & retract” (so similar to the standard metal lancet) but with absolutely minimal pressure.

Figure 1: UniTest PC lancet pressed gently into the test site on the patient’s forearm
Figure 2: UniTest PC lancet image after too-heavy pressure onto the test site on the patient’s forearm, but it shows the pattern of the introduction of the SPT allergen into the test site
Figure 3: UniTest PC and MultiTest PC lancet tip, showing the central pillar and the surrounding 6 tines
Figure 4: UniTest PC lancets in the DipWell Tray; 40 wells and 40 allergens and 40 UniTest PC lancets. The exact same Tray can be used for the DuoTip II lancets.

Please see http://lincolndiagnostics.com/products/unitest-pc/ for more information.

The UniTest PC is well documented, despite being a recent introduction in USA. That literature can be seen on the Lincoln website or on request from Bio-Diagnostics.

“Multi-Test PC”

The Multi-Test PC is an SPT device comprising 8 UniTest PC-type individual lancets. These 8 legs form a device that is intended for use with fixed allergen panels. The Multi-Test PC DipWell Tray holds 3 Multi-Test PC Devices, so 3 allergen panels each of 8 allergens. For example an Inhalant Panel of 8 allergens, plus a Paediatric Food Panel of 8 allergens, and a Mixed Panel of 8 allergens including Positive & Negative Controls.

Figure 1: UniTest PC and Multi-Test PC lancet tip, showing the central pillar and the surrounding 6 tines

Figure 2: Each of the three devices sits in 8 wells of SPT reagent, in a Multi-Test DipWell Tray. Of course these are fixed panels, so flexibility of testing is lost, but it is nonetheless excellent when SPT screening for a limited number of common allergens. Add in maximum 0.5ml of each SPT solution to its well.  As SPT reagents are 50% glycerol there is no evaporation.

10-15 microlitre reagent consumption per SPT compared to 40ul for traditional SPT. Therefore fast testing with 24 allergens in 30 seconds.

With an optimally standardised procedure and excellent precision, the Multi-Test PC is especially suited for formal clinical trials that include SPT, because the inter-operator variability is exceptionally low. This feature also means it is highly suited to organization such as commercial laboratory chains where there are numerous testing locations and they must absolutely standardise on the SPT allergens being tested, on the test procedure and on the test result evaluation. For Immunologists or Chemical Pathologists running a widespread SPT service then Multi-Test PC fulfills these requirements admirably.

Multi-Test PC can be used alone or as a compliment to the UniTest PC individual lancets. As the end of the UniTest PC lancet is exactly the same as the end of the 8 lancets in the Multi-Test PC device, then a positive result will look identical with both systems.

Please see http://lincolndiagnostics.com/products/multi-test-pc/ for product information and http://lincolndiagnostics.com/products/multi-test-ii/instructions for video demonstrations (of the predecessor “Multi-Test II” variant).

Each of these Lincoln lancet systems is CE marked. The Lincoln Lancet systems are well documented and many such publications are available for download from the Lincoln website www.lincolndiagnostics.com .  These and other scientific or medical publications are also available from Bio-Diagnostics on request.

Stock is held at Bio-Diagnostics of all the components of the 3 main products, DuoTip II and UniTest PC and MultiTest PC.