Rapid carbapenemase detection just got faster: introducing Certest ResisCheck® to UK laboratories

Pro-Lab Diagnostics is proud to announce the launch of Certest ResisCheck® Carbapenemases, a game-changing diagnostic solution now exclusively available in the UK market.

The growing threat of carbapenem resistance

Antimicrobial resistance represents one of the greatest healthcare challenges of our time. Among the most clinically concerning developments is the emergence and global spread of carbapenemase-producing bacteria, organisms that produce enzymes capable of inactivating carbapenems, our last-resort antibiotics.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa are associated with:

• High mortality rates in vulnerable patient populations
• Severe hospital-acquired infections and outbreak potential
• Limited therapeutic options, forcing clinicians to rely on toxic alternatives
• Rapid dissemination through healthcare settings via plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer

The clinical impact is profound. Infections caused by carbapenemase-producing organisms demand immediate identification to inform antibiotic stewardship decisions, guide infection prevention measures, and prevent outbreaks. Yet traditional detection methods are often slow, labour-intensive, or provide ambiguous results, delaying critical clinical decisions precisely when speed matters most.

The five families you need to know

Carbapenemases are not a single threat; they represent multiple enzymatic classes with distinct epidemiologies and clinical implications:

• KPC (Klebsiella Pneumoniae Carbapenemase) – predominantly associated with Enterobacteriaceae, particularly prevalent in North America
• NDM (New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase) – emerging globally, spreading rapidly in Europe and Asia
• VIM (Verona Integron-Encoded Metallo-β-Lactamase) – common in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae in European settings
• OXA-48 (Oxacilinase-48) – widespread in Enterobacteriaceae, increasingly encountered internationally
• IMP (Imipenemase) – notable for high genetic diversity and structural variability, historically challenging to detect

Detecting all five families on a single test platform, whilst maintaining the breadth to capture emerging variants, has, until now, required multiple assays or complex algorithmic interpretation.

Introducing Certest ResisCheck® Carbapenemases

Certest ResisCheck® Carbapenemases changes the diagnostic landscape by delivering simultaneous detection of all five major carbapenemase families – KPC, NDM, VIM, OXA-48, and IMP – on a single lateral flow immunochromatographic strip in just 15 minutes.

Exceptional performance

Clinical validation across 425 well-characterised isolates demonstrates:

• 97.3% sensitivity – catches the vast majority of true positives
• 100% specificity – eliminates false alarms
• 98.9% overall agreement against established reference assays (PPA: 97.3%, NPA: 99.3%, κ = 0.97)

Importantly, the assay covers clinically dominant variants across all families:

• KPC-2, KPC-3, KPC-4, KPC-5, KPC-6, KPC-23, KPC-31, KPC-66
• NDM-1, NDM-4, NDM-5, NDM-7, NDM-9
• VIM-1, VIM-2, VIM-4, VIM-19, VIM-33, VIM-38, VIM-63
• OXA-48, OXA-181, OXA-232, OXA-244, OXA-163, OXA-370
• IMP-1, IMP-2, IMP-4, IMP-8, IMP-13, IMP-16, IMP-22, IMP-23, IMP-26

What sets Certest ResisCheck® apart?

1. Crystal clear results with no ambiguity
   
   High signal intensity across all five test lines combined with a clean membrane background eliminates interpretative uncertainty. Results are presented as clearly coloured red test lines with a green differential control line, making positive and negative results immediately obvious.
   
2. Extended reading window
   
   Unlike competing assays that present results in small, densely packed zones, Certest ResisCheck® features a larger, distinct detection window that enhances visual clarity and reduces operator error.
   
3. IVDR Certified and European manufactured
   
   The assay meets the rigorous requirements of the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR), ensuring compliance with the latest European quality standards. Manufacturing in Europe guarantees consistent quality, rapid supply to UK laboratories, and demonstrated reliability.
   
4. No equipment required
   
   This is a true point-of-care solution. Single-use components, straightforward procedure, and minimal training requirements make implementation practical for any clinical microbiology laboratory – whether large teaching hospitals or smaller facilities.
   
5. Works with routine samples
   
   The test accepts bacterial isolates from any biological specimen; blood cultures, respiratory samples, urine and wound swabs, allowing seamless integration into existing diagnostic workflows.
   
6. Comprehensive variant coverage
   
   Genetic diversity within carbapenemase families creates detection challenges for many assays. Certest ResisCheck® has been specifically optimised to capture the full spectrum of clinically relevant variants, including rare alleles that other rapid tests miss.

Clinical impact beyond the 15 minute result

Rapid carbapenemase identification drives better patient outcomes:

Antibiotic Stewardship Immediate confirmation of carbapenemase production allows clinicians to make rapid, evidence-based treatment decisions. Unnecessary broad-spectrum therapy can be avoided in negative cases; in positive cases, more appropriate alternative agents (such as ceftazidime-avibactam for KPC) can be considered early.

Infection prevention and control Outbreaks of carbapenemase-producing organisms demand rapid identification to implement contact precautions, cohorting, and decolonisation strategies. Every hour delayed is a missed opportunity to contain transmission.

Reduced hospitalisation duration Faster diagnostic clarity shortens the period of clinical uncertainty and enables swifter pathway escalation or de-escalation, reducing prolonged hospitalisation and associated costs.

Cost-effectiveness A single assay detecting five carbapenemase families is significantly more economical than using multiple tests or reflex algorithms. For busy microbiology departments processing dozens of suspected carbapenemase-producing isolates weekly, this efficiency translates to real cost savings.

Pro-Lab Diagnostics: Your trusted partner for Certest innovation

Pro-Lab Diagnostics is the exclusive distributor of Certest Biotec products throughout the United Kingdom. With a longstanding partnership spanning many years, Pro-Lab has established itself as a trusted partner in bringing innovative diagnostic solutions to UK healthcare laboratories.

Our deep experience distributing a comprehensive portfolio of Certest products – from rapid tests to specialised immunodiagnostic assays – positions us uniquely to support your laboratory’s needs. We understand the pressures facing modern clinical microbiology: the demand for faster results, the complexity of emerging resistance mechanisms, and the operational constraints of limited laboratory resources.

Through our established relationship with Certest Biotec, we ensure:

• Rapid, reliable supply chains backed by European manufacturing
• Technical expertise and training to maximise assay performance
• Dedicated customer support to answer questions and troubleshoot issues
• Competitive pricing reflecting our direct partnership

Certest ResisCheck® Carbapenemases represents the latest advancement in our partnership, combining cutting-edge immunodiagnostic technology with our commitment to delivering reliable, high-performance diagnostic tools that enable faster clinical decisions and improve patient outcomes across the UK healthcare system.

The Launch: available now!

Certest ResisCheck® Carbapenemases is now available for order through Pro-Lab Diagnostics, with immediate availability and competitive pricing for NHS laboratories, private facilities, and all UK diagnostic providers.

Download the ResisCheck® product information guide

All you need to implement carbapenemase detection in your laboratory: