Find out if Nano-Based Contrast Agents are good or bad. Find out how Nano-Based Contrast Agents will save money for imaging studies performed with MRI, CT, and basic X-ray. MD Buyline, the leader in healthcare supply chain management solutions, has further details. View the full article at http://www.mdbuyline.com/blog/nano-based-contrast-how-good-2/.

1. Nano-Based Contrast – How Good?
Wow, what a leap in technology. When I have discussions with
administrators on what’s up and coming in imaging technology, the first
thing that comes to mind is big boxes that cost millions. In the world of
imaging, not a whole lot of discussions at this level are directed to contrast
agents. I have been following nano-based contrast agents since my first
evolving technology conference years ago and am pretty excited about
what’s in store.

2. For example, a recent MIT technology review article has stated that
researchers have developed nano-based agents that are 15 times more
sensitive than existing compounds. A nanoparticle is a molecule that ranges
from 1 nm to 100 nm in length and, because of their size, can also reach
multiple areas of the body.
This sounds exciting, but how does this translate to better outcomes and
the bottom line? On the clinical side, the increased spatial resolution allows
the ability to identify pathologies at the molecular level. This will assist
physicians in identifying tumors at their earliest stages and the classification
of vulnerable plaque in the coronary arteries.

3. I had a discussion with Dr. Alexander R. Margulis, MD, clinical professor of
radiology at Weil Medical College at Cornell University New York, about the
added cost of contrast material and he stated, Considering how expensive
an overall study that includes the hospital and doctors fee, the contrast is
not that much more expensive. The big question is what it contributes to
the study. If it contributes a great deal, then the cost is not very relevant. If
it does not contribute much, why use it at all?
So what does it cost? Early projection is that nano-based contrast agents
range from $700 to $800 per dose. In comparison, non-nano-based contrast
agents range from $50 to $80 per dose. The contrast agent market is
already a $3 billion per year industry in the U.S. and will continue to grow at
rates of 10 to 12% per year.

4. But there is a positive trade off to the 10-time increase in costs. This new
technology will allow for more imaging studies to be performed with MRI,
CT, and basic X-ray than cath labs and PET studies. Considering these are
$2,000 to $4,000 studies, $800 is a bargain, and in this economy, who isn’t
looking for a bargain?