Development of a quick detection method for complex immune analytes

An analysis method permitting the simultaneous quantification of numerous parameters in the immune system was recently presented at the Campus Vienna Biocenter. The technology, which has been developed by Bender MedSystems, is based on the principle of a widespread analysis device and thus allows for rapid implementation in daily laboratory life. It thus succeeds in satisfying the growing demand at clinical and pharmaceutical organisations for increasingly efficient analysis methods at favourable costs.

The simultaneous determination of a high amount of different parameters in body fluids currently represents an important challenge in diagnosis.

Located at the Campus Vienna Biocenter, Bender MedSystems GmbH now meets this challenge with an efficient solution in the form of FlowCytomix technology, which permits simultaneous detection of up to 10 analytes with a technology implemented in everyday laboratory life: the automatic sorting of fluorescence labelled cells. Individual cells are detected and differentiated on the basis of their size and fluorescence intensity by means of flow cytometry.

This new FlowCytomix product does not measure cells, however: it assesses the synthetic, fluorescent microspheres that have been coated with specific antibodies and added to the sample. These bind substances in body fluids, which can then be identified. Each of the maximum 10 types of microspheres only carries antibodies for a single specific substance. After the separation of microspheres, the bound antibodies can be detected via a specific antibody or two-step reaction. The automatic analysis of the substance size and the dye intensity thus allow for the identification and quantification of the bound substance.