Randox Evidence Investigator™

Features:

Clinical Standards for research

Biochip Array Technology offers many advantages over conventional assay methods, these include the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes and the reduction in sample and reagent volumes. Biochip Array Technology is a valuable tool for research laboratories and the high-sample-throughput world of the clinical laboratory.

Biochip Array Technology is applicable to the detection of a wide range of substances and offers benefits to all areas of scientific research and investigation. The stable calibration curves and excellent precision data demonstrate the accuracy and reproducibility of the image processing and detection methods used. The benefit of using an array approach to sample analysis is the simultaneous testing of all analytes.

The evidence investigator™ system is based on the use of a biochip as a platform for immunoassay measurement. Conventional immunoassay techniques are utilised for the measurement of analytes on the surface of a biochip, which results in the specific and simultaneous profiling of markers. Rather than having to divide and separately test a patient sample to obtain each test result, evidence investigator™ offers a means for simultaneous testing of a sample and thus provides a more complete diagnostic profile for each patient. The Cytokine and Growth Factors array measures 12 analytes from a single sample.

All reagents required to run assays are provided in a single kit – assay buffer, multi-analyte conjugate, nine levels of multi-analyte calibrator, wash buffer and signal reagent. Multi-analyte controls are available as a separate kit. The evidence investigator™ CVs are below 10% thus providing the user with confidence in results obtained. There is reduced variation as all results are determined at the exact same time point. One vial of multi-analyte calibrator is all that is required for each of the nine levels. An extensive QC menu including Levey Jennings charts with multi-point rules and multi-analyte QC material is available for all arrays.

A number of technologies are combined to produce a 'ready-to-use' biochip. These include synthetic chemistry for the development of novel biological ligands and their subsequent use in assay development, nano dispensing for accurate spatial location of analytes on the surface of the biochip and a sensitive digital detection technology enabling the system to obtain the very high levels of sensitivity required in clinical and research immunoassays.

An array of discrete test regions is applied onto the surface of the biochip, in exact pre-defined co-ordinates by nano dispensing technology. Each test region consists of different antibodies, or other reactive species, specific for each assay. In theory hundreds of tests could be accommodated on the biochip surface, however current clinical strategies dictate a more limited array of tests, determined by their clinical significance. The evidence investigator™ test menus are arranged into disease orientated test arrays or by group association

Clinical significance of Adhesion molecules

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are complex membrane proteins that have an important role in a number of cellular processes. The adhesion molecules have been divided into 4 main families: the selectins, the immunoglobin (Ig) superfamily, integrins and cadherins.

In addition to the membrane forms the adhesion molecules can be shed from the cell surface and can be detected in the blood of normal healthy persons with the levels being altered in a number of pathological states. Increased knowledge of these changes in the levels of the soluble adhesion molecules should help to further the understanding of their physiological role and pathological significance. This should lead to better diagnosis and disease management.

The importance of adhesion molecules

• Adhesion proteins are important for the normal functioning of living organisms
• Adhesion proteins hold together the components of solid tissues
• They are also important for the function of migratory cells like white blood cells
• Adhesion proteins are also important for interactions that allow viruses and bacteria to cause damage to humans

ANIMAL or VETERINARY ?

Animal Arrays:
-veterinary drug residue arrays
growth promoter array I

ß -Agonist
Trenbolone
Boldenone
Stilbenes
Stanozolol
Nortestosterone
Corticosteroids
Ractopamine
Zeranol
-Multi analyte calibrators and controls are available for the assays listed above

Anti-microbial array I

Sulphamerazine
Sulphadimethoxine
Sulphaquinoxaline
Sulphamethazine
Sulphadiazine
Sulphamethazole
Sulphadoxine
Sulphapyridine
Sulphamethoxypyridazine
Sulphachlorpyridazine
Sulphathiazole
Sulphaisoxazole
-Multi analyte calibrators and controls are available for the assays listed above

Anti-microbial array II*

Tetracyclines
Phenicols
Beta-lactams
Quinolones
Cephalosporins
Carbadox
-Multi analyte calibrators and controls are available for the assays listed above
 

Anti-microbial array III*

Nitrofurans
Phenicols
Dyes
Imidazoles
-Multi analyte calibrators and controls are available for the assays listed above

Synthetic steroids*

Synthetic androgens
Synthetic gestagens
Synthetic estrogens
-Multi analyte calibrators and controls are available for the assays listed above

colorectal cancer DNA array*

K-ras
TP-53
BRAF
APC
Will detect 28 different mutations

Cardiovascular disease DNA array*

ACE
Apo E
ApoB
ApoCIII
CETP
CYBA
ELAM1
Fg
FII
FVII
GJA4
GNB3
IL6
LDLR
LPL
LIPH
MMP3
MTHFR
PON1
SerpinE1
PCSK9
TNF- a
Will detect 27 different polymorphisms

cDNA expression arrays*

Ovarian cancer
Breast cancer

* in development

The Randox Biochip
The Evidence Investigator™ utilizes a biochip as a reaction platform. The biochip is a 9mm2 solid substrate with multiple specific ligands (antibodies or antigens) attached at pre-defined sites on the surface. At present up to 100 tests can be pre-fabricated onto the biochip surface. In the future the capacity of tests per biochip can be increased dramatically.

Randox Methodology
The evidence investigator™ utilizes the basic principles of immunology; supporting competitive, sandwich and antibody capture immunoassay formats. The competitive assay utilizes an enzyme labeled analyte for signal production whereas the sandwich assay utilizes an enzyme labeled antibody. The chemiluminescence signals are simultaneously measured for the full array of tests on each chip.

ARRAYS:
Cardiac array

Cardiac biomarkers are enzymes, proteins and hormones that are associated with heart function, damage or failure. Some of the tests are specific for the heart while others are also elevated with skeletal muscle damage. Cardiac biomarkers are used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes and are frequently ordered by doctors when someone comes into A&E complaining of symptoms, such as chest pain, pressure, nausea, and shortness of breath.

The evidence investigator is a compact bench-top Biochip Array Technology analyser for the simultaneous analysis of a panel of tests in a single sample. The Clinical standards for research page gives an overview of Biochip Array Technology.

The cardiac array of tests are presented on a single biochip. All six tests are performed simultaneously using just one assay diluent, one panel-specific conjugate solution and one signal reagent.

Cardiac array test menu

Troponin I
Myglobin
CK-MB
Carbonic Anhydrase III (CA III)
Glycogen Phosphorylase BB (GPBB)
Fatty Acid Binding Protein (FABP)

The cardiac biochip measures 6 cardiac biomarkers from one patient sample revealing a great deal more information than a single test, this is the power of biochip array technology.

Cytokines & growth factors array

Cytokines and growth factors are proteins secreted primarily by immune system cells such as leucocytes. They are a means of intercellular communication with both immune and non-immune system cells. Upon binding to a cell membrane receptor, cytokines initiate a signal transduction cascade in their target cell. Cytokines form a complex web of interactions since:

·  Different cytokines can have similar effects.

·  Cells interact with a variety of cytokines.

·  Cytokines may affect the activity and   expression of other cytokines.

Cytokines and growth factors array test menu

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1a)
Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b)
Interleukin-2 (IL-2)
Interleukin-4 (IL-4)
Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
Interleukin-8 (IL-8)
Interleukin-10 (IL-10)
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) - in development
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-a)
Interferon-gamma (IFN-g)
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1)

Adhesion molecules array

The adhesion molecules array of tests are presented on a single biochip. All five tests are performed simultaneously using just one assay diluent, one panel-specific conjugate solution and one signal reagent. The following adhesion molecule markers are measured on one biochip:

ICAM-I
VCAM-I
E - selectin
P - selectin
L - selectin

Drugs of abuse array I

Amphetamine
Methamphetamine
Cocaine
Barbiturates
Cannabinoids
Opiates
Methadone
Benzodiazepines
Lorazepam
Phencyclidine
Creatinine

Free thyroid array

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Free tri-iodothyronine (FT3)
Free thyroxine (FT4

Total thyroid array

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Total tri-iodothyronine (TT3)
Total thyroxine (TT4)

Fertility array

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Prolactin (PRL)
Lutenising Hormone (LH)
Estradiol*
Progesterone
Testosterone


Tumor monitoring array

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
a- Fetoprotein (AFP)
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)
Gastrointestinal tumour antigen (CA 19-9)
Ovarian Tumour antigen (CA 125)
Breast cancer antigen (CA 15-3)

Tumor PSA array

Total prostate specific antigen (tPSA)
Free prostate specific antigen (fPSA)
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Cardiac array

Troponin I
Myoglobin
CK-MB
Carbonic Anhydrase III (CA III)
Glycogen Phosphorylase BB (GPBB)
Fatty Acid Binding Protein (FABP)

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                            Carbonic Anhydrase

CUSTOM BIOCHIPS
Produced on demand - Inquire***

Multi-analyte quality controls

Drugs of Abuse
Cardiac
Cytokine
Immunoassay
Customised quality controls