SARSTEDT AG & Co. KG becomes strategic investor at Smart4Diagnostics GmbH
SARSTEDT AG & Co. KG is making a strategic investment in the Munich based start-up Smart4Diagnostics GmbH as part of their Series A funding round; together with the EIC Fund, established in 2020 by the European Commission for direct equity investment in breakthrough technologies.
The multi-award-winning company, which was founded in 2018 (as part of the EIT Health Wild Card programme) digitizes the preanalytical process associated with the human sample collection.
With Smart4Diagnostics, Human samples are digitally and uniquely matched to the patient. After the sample has been collected, the S4DX software confirms whether all order-related tubes have been registered, checks the filling volume, time of collection and correct label application. The software can be used in combination with all human samples.
Transport of the samples from the collection site to the laboratory is digitally tracked with high precision and temperature, vibrations and transport time are recorded. The data is automatically transferred to the laboratory information system (LIS) upon sample arrival at the laboratory.
“Our software recognizes both pre-barcoded tubes from the factory as well as the classic secondary labels that are applied by the user. Additionally, we cover mixed operation, due to our compatibility with all common tube types and manufacturers.” explains Dr. Hans-Maria Heyn, one of the four founders and co-partner of this innovative system.
"In the interests of error-free preanalytics it is important to us that we do not impose any restrictions." Heyn continues.
Rainer Schuster, Director Sales / Research & Development at SARSTEDT adds: “The primary goal of both of our companies is to optimize the preanalytical process and the sample quality as a basis for decision making, enabling faster and more precise patient treatment. The partnership with Smart4Diagnostics offers our customers a completely new way of ensuring sample quality from sample collection to arrival in the laboratory and, if necessary, optimizing processes, which ultimately benefit the patient through faster and more accurate results."
Kerstin Bock, Member of the EIC Fund Investment Committee, says: “We are very happy to back the S4DX mission to digitize the entire blood sampling procedure with the EIC Fund. This financial round will help the team to further develop and scale a market-changing product and set new standards for diagnostic decision making.”
From now on, SARSTEDT and Smart4Diagnostics jointly provide information on the innovative, digitized way of sample tracking.