A new hi-tech system for diagnosing disease that the makers claim will revolutionise health care worldwide was unveiled today.
Bio-chip technology will enable earlier and faster diagnosis of diseases including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The new technology enables high-speed testing of a single sample for a whole array of diseases.
Randox Laboratories, based in Northern Ireland, has spent nine years and £35 million developing a new clinical analyser, which it has named Evidence.
The technology - a world first - went on show today at the opening of the company's annual conference in Belfast, attended by customers from some 80 countries.
Randox is one of the world's fastest-growing diagnostic companies and supplies more than 28,000 laboratories in 120 countries.
It has 180 scientists working on Evidence, which is to go into production early next year. At the moment it is being assessed by the Food and Drugs Agency in the United States.
The company said it expected US approval shortly and a high worldwide take-up as soon as production began.
As a direct result of the breakthrough Randox is recruiting 100 extra staff - mostly scientists - to add to its 380-member team which is based in County Antrim.
PA