K980055 · Exigent Diagnostics, Inc. · JGE · Jan 28, 1998 · Clinical Chemistry
Device Facts
Record ID
K980055
Device Name
CARESIDE GLOBULIN
Applicant
Exigent Diagnostics, Inc.
Product Code
JGE · Clinical Chemistry
Decision Date
Jan 28, 1998
Decision
SESE
Submission Type
Traditional
Regulation
21 CFR 862.1330
Device Class
Class 1
Indications for Use
The CareSide™ Globulin product is intended for in vitro diagnostic use when used in conjunction with the Exigent Diagnostics CareSide™ Analyzer to calculate globulin and albumin/globulin ratio from albumin and total protein results. When a CareSide™ Analyzer operator performs both a total protein test (Product Code: TP) and an albumin test (Product Code: ALB) on a single patient sample, the CareSide™ Analyzer automatically calculates the Globulin measurement and the Albumin to Globulin ratio (A/G Ratio). Both calculations aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with numerous illnesses including severe liver and renal disease, multiple myeloma, and other disorders of blood globulins.
Device Story
CareSide™ Analyzer processes whole blood, plasma, or serum samples using CareSide™ Total Protein and Albumin cartridges; device performs biuret reaction for total protein and bromocresol green reaction for albumin; analyzer automatically calculates globulin concentration as difference between total protein and albumin, and computes albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio; used in clinical settings by professionals; output provided to clinicians to aid diagnosis/treatment of liver/renal disease, multiple myeloma, and blood globulin disorders.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Reference interval established using 68 healthy adult workers (27 males, 41 females; mean age 38). Globulin reference interval determined as 2.7 to 4.2 g/dL; A/G ratio 0.9 to 1.6.
Technological Characteristics
Dry film cartridge-based in vitro diagnostic system. Utilizes biuret reaction (cupric ion) for total protein and bromocresol green reaction for albumin. Standalone analyzer platform. Software-based calculation of globulin and A/G ratio.
Indications for Use
Indicated for use in patients with illnesses including severe liver and renal disease, multiple myeloma, and other disorders of blood globulins to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A globulin test system is a device intended to measure globulins (proteins) in plasma and serum. Measurements of globulin are used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with numerous illnesses including severe liver and renal disease, multiple myeloma, and other disorders of blood globulins.
{0}------------------------------------------------
PHONE NO. : 31033867
JAN 2 8 1998
Exigent Diagnostics, Inc. Page 10a
Exigent Diagnostics, Inc.
Kenneth B. Asarch, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
6100 Bristol Parkway
310-338-6767
310-338-6789
January 26, 1998
Culver City, CA 90230
asarchk @ worldnet.att.net
CarcSide™ Globulin and A/G Ratio Premarket Notification revised on January 26, 1998
### 510(k) Summary: V.
## CareSide™ Globulin and A/G Ratio Calculation Safety and Effectiveness
### Applicant Information I.
- Applicant Name A.
- Applicant/Manufacturer Address B.
- Telephono Number ਂ
- Contact Person D.
- E. FAX Number
- e-Mail Address F
- Date 510(k) Summary prepared G.
### 11. Device Information
- Device Name (Trade) A.
- Device Name (Classification) B.
- Device Classification ్ర
- Device Tier D.
E. Snecial controls and performance standards
Substantial Equivalence Claim III.
- General equivaloncy claim A.
The ability to monitor analyte-specific biochemical reactions in dry film and other formats is widely recognized and has gained widespread acceptance for use in chemistry assays. Historically, globulin has been measured directly in a variety of ways, including electrophoretically, nephelometrically, turbidimetrically, and colorimetrically. However, direct measurement is no longer in common use. Rather, commercial in vitro diagnostic systems and clinical laboratories have, for many years, provided clinically useful results by calculating globulin results from albumin and total protein. Calculations of globulin from these dry film and other formats are similarly widely recognized.
Globulin in vitro diagnostic products are already on the U.S. market. These products utilize dry film and other formats. These products utilize the biuret reaction (reaction of protein peptide bonds with cupric ion in alkaline environment),
### B. Specific equivalency claim
This CareSide™ Globulin calculation test is substantially cquivalent in principle, intended use, and clinical performance to the currently marketed Vitros slides for the quantitative measurement of total protein and albumin on the Vitros DT 60 II.
Johnson and Johnson's Vitros TP and Albumin DT Name of Predicate Device: Eastman Kodak, Slides (formerly Johnson and Johnson's Vitros DT 60 (formerly Eastman Kodak's DT 60 II).
Prodicate Device S10K number: Product Code:
K912844/A 75JJP
CareSide™ Globulin and Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratin Globulin test system Clinical chemistry panel Globulin test system Regulation Number: 21 CFR 862.1330 Regulatory Class I Tier I . None applicable .
Inc.)
and
{1}------------------------------------------------
Exigent Diagnostics, Inc. Page 10b
CareSide 14 Globulin and A/G Ratio Premarket Notification revised on January 26, 1998
### IV. Device Description
The CareSide™ Analyzer uses the Total Protein and Albumin cartridge test results from a single patient sample to determine the globulin concentration and A/G Ratio. Globulin is calculated as the difference between the total protein and albumin concentrations.
#### A. Explanation of Device Function
The CareSide™ Globulin is a calculated test hased upon whole blood, plasma or serum results from CareSide™ Total Protein and Albumin cartridges using only the CareSide™ Analyzer [510(k) ponding]. The CareSide™ Globulin is an in vitro diagnostic product intended for the calculation of globulin in human serum, plasma, and whole blood. The principle of the calculation relies upon the following CareSide™ Total Protein and CareSideTM Albumin cartridges test reactions.
Test Reaction Sequences:
### Total Protein
Protein + Cupric ion -> purple dye
### Albumin
Albumin + Bromocresol green -> Albumin-BCG (Blue)
### B. Test Summary
Globulin is a term for a subsct of serum proteins distinguished from the major plasma protein, serum albumin, by their electrophorctic properties. Most globulins have major carbohydrate components. Globulins are categorized by their clectrophoretic properties as, a, B, and y-globulins. a-Globulins include an-globulin and a2-globulin (a2glycoprotein, ceruloplasmin, and prothrombin). B-globulins consist of Bi-lipoproteins, transferrin, and plasminogen. y-globulins, which have molecular weights approximately 150,000, function as antibodies and occur in a very large number of different types. The quantitation of globulin (either indirect calculation or less commonly, direct measurement) is used to sid in the diagnosis of many disease states.
Globulins are elevated infections, most acute and chronic liver diseases, collagen disorders such as theumatoid arthritis and lupus crythematosis, and neoplastic diseases such as multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia, and leukemia.
Although it is recommended that clinicians evaluate the level of globulin and albumin individually, many physicians additionally request the calculated ratio of albumin to globulin concentration for evaluation.
#### V. Intended Use
### A. Intended Use
The CareSide™ Globulin product is intended for in vitro diagnostic use when used in conjunction with the Exigent Diagnostics CareSide™ Analyzer to calculate globulin and Whon & CareSide™ albuminiglobulin ratio from alhumin and total protein results. Analyzer operator performs both a total protein tost (Product Code: TP) and an albumin test (Product Code: ALB) on a single patient sample, the CarcSide™ Analyzer automatically calculates the Globulin measurement and the Albumin to Globulin ratio Both calculations aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with (A/G Ratio). numerous illnesses including severe liver and renal disease, multiple myeloma, and other disorders of bluad globulins.
### B. Indications for Use
This product is indicated for use with patients with numerous illnesses including severe liver and renal disease, multiple myeloma, and other disorders of blood globulins.
{2}------------------------------------------------
Exigent Diagnostics, Inc. Page 10c
CarcSide™ Clobulin and A/G Ratio Premarket Notification revised on January 26, 1998
### Expected Values (Reference Interval) VI.
To determine the following central 95% interval, an on-site investigator used CareSide™ Total Protein and CareSide™ Albumin test carridges on the CareSide™ Analyzer to test specimens from a population of 68 ambulatory, healthy adult workers (males, n=27, mean age 38; females, n= 41, mean age 38):
Globulin 2.7 to 4.2 g/dL 0.9 to 1.6 NG Ratio
This reference interval is similar to the globulin reference interval (2.8 to. 3.8 g/dL) published by Lehninger, 1975. (Lehninger, A.L., Biochemistry, Worth Publishers, p. 831; 1975)
{3}------------------------------------------------
## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Image /page/3/Picture/1 description: The image shows the logo for the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) in the United States. The logo features a stylized eagle or bird symbol, with three curved lines representing its wings or feathers. The text "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - USA" is arranged in a circular fashion around the bird symbol.
Food and Drug Administration 2098 Gaither Road Rockville MD 20850
.IAN 28 1998
Kenneth B. Asarch, Ph.D. . VP Quality Systems and Regulatory Affairs Exigent Diagnostics Inc. 6100 Bristol Parkway Culver City, California 90230
Re : K980055 CareSide™ Globulin Requlatory Class: I Product Code: JGE Dated: December 30, 1997 Received: January 6, 1997
Dear Dr. Asarch:
We have reviewed your Section 510 (k) notification of intent to market the device referenced above and we have determined the device is substantially equivalent (for the indications for use stated in the enclosure) to devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments, or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions The general controls provisions of the Act of the Act. include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, good manufacturing practice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (Premarket Approval), it may be subject to such additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Requlations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 895. A substantially equivalent determination assumes compliance with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, as set forth in the Quality System Regulation (QS) for Medical Devices: General regulation (21 CFR Part 820) and that, through periodic QS inspections, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will verify such assumptions. Failure to comply with the GMP requlation may result in regulatory action. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register. Please note: this response to your premarket notification submission does not affect any obligation you might have under sections 531 through 542 of the Act for devices under the Electronic Product Radiation Control provisions, or other Federal laws or requlations.
{4}------------------------------------------------
Paqe 2
Under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA-88), this device may require a CLIA complexity categorization. To determine if it does, you should contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at (770) 488-7655.
This letter will allow you to begin marketing your device as The FDA described in your 510 (k) premarket notification. finding of substantial equivalence of your device to a legally marketed predicate device results in a classification for your device and thus, permits your device to proceed to the market.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801 and additionally 809.10 for in vitro diagnostic devices), please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4588. Additionally, for questions on the promotion and advertising of your device, please contact the Office of Compliance at (301) 594-4639. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to the regulation Chercrea, "Morranamy by Tother general information on your responsibilities under the Act may be obtained from the Division of Small Manufacturers Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at its internet address "http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/dsmamain.html".
Sincerely yours,
Steven Bitman
Steven I. Gutman, M.D., M.B.A. Director Division of Clinical Laboratory Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
{5}------------------------------------------------
Page / of /
510(k) Number (if known): K980055
Device Name:_
Indications For Use:
# VII. Indications for Use
510(k) Number: To be assigned Device Name: CareSide Globulin
Indications for use: For in vitro diagnostic use with Exigent Diagnostics CareSide Analyzer to calculate globulin and albumin/globulin ratio from albumin and globulin results generated on the CareSide Analyzer by professionals to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with numerous illnesses including severe liver and renal disease, multiple myeloma, and other disorders of blood globulins.
(PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LÌNE-CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
| (Division Sign-Off) | |
|-----------------------------------------|---------|
| Division of Clinical Laboratory Devices | |
| 510(k) Number | K980055 |
| Prescription Use (Per 21 CFR 801.109) | |
|---------------------------------------|--|
|---------------------------------------|--|
OR
| Over-The-Counter Use (Optional Format 1-2-96) | |
|-----------------------------------------------|--|
|-----------------------------------------------|--|
Predicate graph will load when search results are available.
Embedding visualization will load when search results are available.
PDF viewer will load when search results are available.
Loading panels...
Select an item from Submissions
Click any panel, subpart, regulation, product code, or device to see details here.
Section Matches
Results will appear here.
Product Code Matches
Results will appear here.
Special Control Matches
Results will appear here.
Loading collections...
Loading
My Alerts
You will receive email notifications based on the filters and frequency you set for each alert.
Sort by:
Create Alert
Search Filters
Agent Token
Create a read-only bearer token for Claude, ChatGPT, or other agents that can call HTTP APIs.
Copy this now. It will not be shown again.
Connected apps
Apps you authorized through browser sign-in. Disconnecting revokes their access immediately.
Learn the FDA Browser
Two short videos show you everything — or skip straight to the written tutorial if you'd rather read. You can reopen this any time from the Tutorial button in the top bar.
Part 1 — Search, results, and everyday workflows 16 min
Part 2 — Embeddings: the galaxy map 3 min
1. Search: exact and fuzzy
Type a phrase like "coronary artery calcification" into the search box. You get two kinds of results. Exact results match the literal phrase — prefix searches work ("coronary artery calcificati") but suffix searches do not. Fuzzy results match on the meaning and intent of your phrase rather than the exact words, and are sorted by relevance score. Hover over the Exact or Fuzzy badge on any row to see exactly why it matched.
Use the checkboxes above the results to narrow: SaMD keeps only software-only devices, AI / ML keeps only devices with AI.
Exact vs. fuzzy search: what's the difference?
Exact matches on the literal phrase (prefix search works, suffix does not). Fuzzy matches on the meaning and intent of the phrase rather than the exact words. Hover over the badge on any row to see why it matched.
You search "coronary artery calcification" and want only software devices with AI. What two filters do you apply?
Narrow by SaMD (software-only devices), then narrow by AI/ML (devices with AI).
2. The results table
Scroll right in the results table. The intended use is extracted for you — no need to open the PDF. The device story gives a high-level snapshot of what the device does and how it's used. The AI Performance sub-table shows each output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, and development/test dataset descriptions — the same format Innolitics uses for regulatory strategy outputs, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. It is AI-generated but has been very reliable in practice.
Where do you find a device's intended use without opening the PDF?
Scroll right in the search results table. The intended use column is extracted for you; no need to dig into the 510(k) summary PDF.
What does the AI Performance sub-table show, and why is it useful?
Output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, development dataset description, and test dataset description. It's the same format we use for regulatory strategy output and Fast 510(k) input, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. AI-generated but reliable in practice.
3. Judging fuzzy relevance
Fuzzy results trail off in relevance as you scroll. Use three signals to decide how far down to go: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether your target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, you're past the relevant zone. A top hit with a low score (~0.4) and a stretched explanation is a hint the closest predicates are far away — the project may be headed for De Novo. Note the fuzzy search is a pattern match: it doesn't handle negation ("not") well, and hardware devices can appear — filter by SaMD/AI ML to cut them.
How do you judge how far down fuzzy search results to go?
Use the relevancy signals: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether the target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, results are trailing off in relevancy.
4. Device detail page: chat and citations
Click a device name to open its detail page: device facts on the left, a chat window on the right. Ask something like "Describe the training data". The answer carries little citation bubbles — click one to jump to the highlighted passage in the source PDF, so you can verify every AI answer against the document. There's also a Download PDF button for sharing.
How do you verify an AI chat answer on the device detail page?
Click the citation bubbles to jump to the relevant highlight in the source document.
Reading rule for every project: how many summaries do you read in full?
At least the three most relevant 510(k) or De Novo summaries, in full. After that, use targeted chat questions to confirm your memory quickly. The tool supports this professional habit — it doesn't replace it.
5. Side-by-side comparison
Select multiple rows in the results table (aim for under ~10), then open the PDF Viewer tab. Ask one question — it goes to all selected devices in parallel, each with citations. This is the fastest way to compare and contrast devices: training data, PCCP scope, how they handled adding new scanners, and so on.
What does the side-by-side PDF viewer mode do?
Select multiple devices, open the PDF viewer tab, and ask one question (e.g., "Describe the training data"). It queries all selected devices simultaneously with citations, so you can compare and contrast quickly.
6. Collections
With rows selected, go to the Collections tab and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). Reload that selection any time — before a client call, pull up the collection and ask questions across all of its devices at once.
How do you save a set of selected devices for later use?
Select the rows, go to the Collections tab, and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). You can reload the selection anytime and carry it into the PDF viewer and other tabs that support selections.
7. Product codes and the regulations tree
Click a product code in the results to jump to it in the regulations tree — identification text, sibling product codes, and devices you can open in a PDF viewer on the right. Click a regulation number to see its identification, special controls, and related product codes. You can also search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree. Always read the special controls if any exist for your device — it broadens your search and sharpens pre-kickoff research.
What can you do from the regulations tree view?
Browse product codes and regulation numbers, read the identification text and special controls, browse sibling product codes, open device PDFs on the right, and search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree.
8. Chart view
Click Show Chart and segment by regulation number (or product code) to see which regulations dominate your result set. Clicking a regulation takes you into the regulations tree. Great for spotting that most matches are, say, hardware laparoscopic devices — a cue to go back and filter.
How do you see which regulations dominate a search result set?
Click "Show Chart" and segment by Regulation Number. Clicking a regulation takes you to the regulations tree.
9. The predicate graph
Open the Predicates tab for a family-tree view of predicate relationships. Click a node to trace its parents and children; selections from search carry over pre-selected. Commonly predicated devices are worth reading — a lot of people predicated them for a reason. The visual lineage is also handy on client calls, e.g. to show how a predicate family evolved and justify why your predicate still holds.
In the predicate graph, why are commonly predicated devices worth reading?
A lot of people predicated them for a reason. Clicking a node traces parents and children, and selections from search carry over pre-selected.
10. Embeddings: the galaxy map
The Embeddings tab plots every matching document in a 2-D "galaxy map" where semantically similar devices cluster together. Hover or click clusters to explore, and let AI label the clusters for you. Embeddings beat product codes for grouping: two devices can carry different product codes (LLZ vs. QIH) yet do the same thing — the embedding captures the meaning of the intended use and device story. This is also exactly how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) works under the hood, and it makes a great visual on client calls.
Try it yourself
Head to the search page and work through a few of these AI/ML fuzzy searches to build intuition: perivascular fat on CT · aortic valve calcification opportunistic screening on noncontrast CT · breast cancer prediction on digital pathology slides · autism detection · gestational age prediction · a hearing aid that can also detect a pulse · foundation model based analysis of ECG · large language models · penetration test. Watch how the relevance scores, intended use, and AI Performance tables tell you when results stop being meaningful.