Canterbury Scientific

Canterbury Scientific Ltd is a biotechnology company that specialises in the development and production of quality HbA1c controls for haematology and clinical biochemistry tests. The company emerged out of the CDHB in 1985 and was founded by Prof Robin Carrell and Bryce Hawkins to provide haemoglobin controls for haematology diagnostic laboratory tests. Canterbury Scientific manufactures freeze-dried and ready-to-use liquid controls for haematology and biochemistry diagnostic tests, blended to strategic target values. These are used for monitoring blood tests and calibrating equipment and processes on in vitro diagnostic analysers. Canterbury Scientific is the only company to make haemoglobin A1c control in a test tube by in vitro glycation instead of using blood from diabetics whose glucose levels are not well controlled. This has many advantages and avoids any ethical issues. The procedure also enables Canterbury Scientific to produce large batches, as there is no volume restriction. Canterbury Scientific's HbA1c controls have the same concentration as whole blood with minimal or no preparation needed before use on an instrument. The company has developed liquid controls that are stable at standard refrigeration temperatures, eliminating the need to aliquot out into little containers and freeze control samples, as is common practice in laboratories with controls with less stability.