A new range of immunoassay controls provides clinically relevant levels of Vitamin B12 capable of accurately assessing the sensitivity of vitamin B12 assays. Vitamin B12 levels may be anywhere between 200 – 900 pg/mL with values under 200pg/mL indicating deficiency; signs of neurological deficiency or anaemia are usually evident in patients with levels below 150pg/mL. The Acusera Level 1 Immunoassay Premium, Immunoassay Premium Plus and Liquid Immunoassay controls contain low enough levels of Vitamin B12 (approx 150pg/mL) to assess assay performance at the clinical decision level, removing the need to purchase a separate anaemia control. In addition to low Vitamin B12 levels, the Premium and Premium Plus controls also contain ultra low levels of Ferritin and TSH, as well as a wide range of other immunoassay parameters, allowing consolidation of fertility hormones, thyroid hormones, kidney function tests, therapeutic drugs and other vitamins. In addition to this the Premium Plus control also contains many of the routinely run tumour markers including AFP, CA15-3, CA19-9, CA-125, CEA, PSA and Free-PSA.
Read more
Advanced plate options for immunoassay protocols
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaThis newly released portfolio of immunoassay surfaces ensures that users get the best results from their assays. Passive binding surfaces are available to absorb medium to large biomolecules in a range of orientations. For more specific binding, the Nunc CovaLink plates facilitate coupling of molecules bearing a free carboxyl or phosphate group, enabling peptides, haptens and DNA to be effectively coupled. In addition, the Immobilizer amino plate forms stable covalent bonds with the free amino acids or sulphhydryl groups of the biomolecule, eliminating the need for a blocking step. Affinity capture surfaces offer even more specific binding, with reduced variability in molecular orientation and improved signal to noise ratio. In order to help users to select the best plate format to meet the demands of their application, the interactive and searchable immunoassay plate selector guide is a free resource, providing in-depth detail about the range of plates available and their applications.
Read more
Clostridium difficile detection kit
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaClostridium difficile is one of the most prevalent nosocomial pathogens, mainly affecting patients after antibiotic treatment. Toxinogenic strains of C. difficile cause infections from mild diarrhoea to pseudomembranous colitis, potentially leading to death. The tissue-damaging enterotoxin (Toxin A) and the cytotoxin (Toxin B) produced by toxinogenic strains of C.difficile are responsible for the disease. Most of the algorithms used in laboratories to diagnose C.difficile described a two step methodology with a first test to identify the bacterium in order to exclude those specimens which are not positive for C.difficile from being tested with the second more expensive and time consuming test. The first line test should allow the detection of the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase, which is specific for C. difficile, with an NPV value close to 100 %. Coris BioConcept has now developed such a C. difficile antigen detection assay, the Clostridium K-SeT, which uses specific antibodies directed against the glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) enzyme of C. difficile. This test has been evaluated on 318 samples by a National Reference Laboratory and the following assay performances have been demonstrated: a sensitivity of 100 %, a specificity of 93 %, an NPV of 100 % and a PPV of 81,5 %.
Read more
Vitamin B12 levels suitable for anaemia monitoring
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaA new range of immunoassay controls provides clinically relevant levels of Vitamin B12 capable of accurately assessing the sensitivity of vitamin B12 assays. Vitamin B12 levels may be anywhere between 200 – 900 pg/mL with values under 200pg/mL indicating deficiency; signs of neurological deficiency or anaemia are usually evident in patients with levels below 150pg/mL. The Acusera Level 1 Immunoassay Premium, Immunoassay Premium Plus and Liquid Immunoassay controls contain low enough levels of Vitamin B12 (approx 150pg/mL) to assess assay performance at the clinical decision level, removing the need to purchase a separate anaemia control. In addition to low Vitamin B12 levels, the Premium and Premium Plus controls also contain ultra low levels of Ferritin and TSH, as well as a wide range of other immunoassay parameters, allowing consolidation of fertility hormones, thyroid hormones, kidney function tests, therapeutic drugs and other vitamins. In addition to this the Premium Plus control also contains many of the routinely run tumour markers including AFP, CA15-3, CA19-9, CA-125, CEA, PSA and Free-PSA.
Read more
Specific Salmonella detection agar
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaIt is often a challenge to identify Salmonella species in samples heavily contaminated with competing microbiological flora, so Lab M has added new Xylose Lysine Tergitol-4 (XLT4) agar to its extensive range of products for Salmonella isolation and identification. XLT4 is a highly selective and very cost-effective medium for the specific detection and enhanced recovery of non-typhi Salmonella species from clinical (and other) samples. It enables labs to rapidly determine whether or not these pathogenic organisms are present, for effective monitoring even when faced with difficult materials.
Read more
Rapid H. pylori detection test
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaInfection with Helicobacter pylori is estimated to affect 40 – 50 % of the population, and can have a significant impact on the treatment of patients with gastroduodenal diseases, gastric cancers and unexplained iron deficiency anaemia. The PYLORITOP Ag+ rapid visual assay for the detection of H. pylori in faecal samples is an immunochromatogenic test designed to provide clinical laboratories with a cost-effective assay to help meet current guidelines for the detection and treatment of H. pylori. The assay provides a quick noninvasive test for H. pylori infection, offering rapid qualitative results in just five minutes to help guide clinical pathways and avoid unnecessary treatments. Based on robust lateral flow technology, individually wrapped test cassettes are supplied with a sample collection tube for maximum convenience, and can be safely stored at room temperature for up to 12 months, providing a practical solution for H. pylori testing.
Read more
Vitamin D LC-MS/MS analysis kit
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaThis unique kit enables the exact analysis of 1,25(OH)2 Vitamin D3/D2 with high specificity and sensitivity and without ion suppression by interfering matrix components. This is due to a superior sample preparation step: Vitamin D is extracted from clinical specimens in a specific single-step affinity purification with the ID Immunotube, thereby separating it from disturbing matrix components and isobaric interferences. The published and market proven product is suitable for flexible use on high-end LC-MS/MS instruments.
Read more
Rapid urine test for kidney injury
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaKidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) has been qualified by the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency as a highly sensitive and specific urinary biomarker to monitor drug-induced kidney injury in preclinical studies and on a case-by-case basis in clinical trials. The urinary Kim-1 band intensity using the Kim-1 dipstick significantly correlated with levels of Kim-1 as measured by a microbead-based assay, histopathological damage, and immunohistochemical assessment of renal Kim-1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Kim-1 was detected following kidney injury induced in rats by cadmium, gentamicin, or bilateral renal ischaemia/reperfusion. In humans, the urinary KIM-1 band intensity was significantly greater in urine from patients with acute kidney injury than in urine from healthy volunteers. The KIM-1 dipstick also enabled temporal evaluation of kidney injury and recovery in two patients who developed postoperative acute kidney injury following cytoreductive surgery for malignant mesothelioma with intraoperative local cisplatin administration.
Read more
Energy efficient sample storage
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaThese innovative new ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers have been designed to provide laboratories with an energy efficient approach to cold storage. The Thermo Scientific Revco UxF Series incorporates users’ choice of high-performance or energy saving modes, which are easily selected via the intuitive touch-screen interface. This new range of freezers provides outstanding sample protection while using significantly less energy than previous generation models. The series helps laboratories to obtain an energy-efficient approach to maintaining sample viability during long- and short-term cold storage. In addition to providing efficient operation, the series offers temperature uniformity throughout the internal chamber. As a result, users can maximise the use of all available space with the knowledge that all samples will be held at the pre-set optimal temperature.
Read more
Listeria monoclonal antibodies
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaListeriosis is a serious infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This infection is contracted by eating contaminated food. The infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and meningitis. An outbreak in 2011 involving contaminated cantaloupes lead to 30 deaths. A new set of recently released monoclonal antibodies to Listeria also contains several that are specific to the p60 protein that is secreted by the organism during growth in culture or in contaminated food. Thus these antibodies offer potential tools for the rapid detection of this food pathogen.
Read more
Bordetella pertussis test kit
, /in Product News /by 3wmediaPertussis toxin is a protein exclusively produced by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which causes the respiratory infectious disease pertussis (whooping cough) in humans. The typical symptoms are frequent and severe cough attacks with a whooping sound and vomiting. The infection can be fatal for infants that have not yet been vaccinated against pertussis. Vaccination does not provide lifelong protection. Adult pertussis can be difficult to diagnose due to milder symptoms and often due to the lack of the characteristic whooping sound and vomiting. Adults with pertussis are therefore the main source of infection for unvaccinated infants. Diagnosis and treatment of adult pertussis can eventually reduce infant pertussis cases. Bordetella pertussis is only present in the airways for the first few weeks after the infection but the symptoms last for a longer period due to presence of the toxin and several other virulence factors. Diagnostic methods detecting the bacterium itself (culture and PCR) are therefore only useful early in the infection. Serology is, however, very efficient for diagnosis of patients with prolonged cough. Pertussis toxin is the recommended antigen for pertussis ELISA as there is no risk of cross-reactions with other bacterial antigens. The Bordetella pertussis IgG-PT ELISA kit is a traditional ELISA setup, which has been developed using purified pertussis toxin. Four standard samples are provided to establish the standard curve. The dilution method is the same for the standards and samples. Heat-treated sera can be analysed with this method without the risk of false-positive results. The sensitivity and specificity value is 81 % and 96 % respectively based on data from Denmark using a cut-off at 75 IU/mL. The test can be carried out either in one day or with overnight incubation for the first step. The plate can be split to facilitate more than one run of the kit. The kit contains enough reagents including controls to perform 24 – 44 test. Shelf life is minimum one year from date of shipment.
Read more