Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
detection and diagnosis are of great importance in cancer management. The authors empha-
size that present day diagnostic tests are based on the detection of tumor-associated markers.
However, the authors point out that the lack of specificity and sensitivity of these markers
hinders their general use in cancer screening of an average risk population. Thus, newer
cancer biomarkers or better screening methods are urgently required. The authors emphasize
that they have successfully optimized their diagnostic ELISA-based kits for the detection of
antibodies against tumor proteins.
Quite a few different types of vendors exhibited their latest detection devices for different
analytes at the 2nd European Congress of Immunology held from September 13-16, 2009
in Berlin, Germany. Once again, as indicated above and as confirmed by the author's
discussions with the different vendors, the devices were being primarily developed for use
in clinical laboratories and not for home use. Of course, when these detection devices are
used in clinical laboratories skilled technicians will be available for performing the tests.
It would be ideal to be able to use these different types of detection devices to detect the
different analytes (related to specific diseases) for home use. But, for this to become a reality,
they would have to comply with the regulations in different countries, for example, the Fed-
eral Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States of America. There may also be some
hesitancy in home use thanks to litigation possibilities. Some companies, which get these
devices ready, may be extra careful in introducing their detection devices for home use to
help minimize these litigation possibilities as they have to be absolutely sure that their device
is safe to use at home even by an unskilled patient or individual.
(i) Dissociation of T-cell subsets by fluorophore spot assays (
Mabtech AB, Sweden, 2009
)
The FluoroSpot assay manufactured by Mabtech enables the rapid detection and enumer-
ation of double-secreting cells making it an attractive device for more advanced analysis
and screening of cellular immune responses. Mabtech indicates that their FluoroSpot is
a good tool for the detection of dual cytokine secretion at the single cell level. Once
again, the instrument is for use only in clinical laboratories. The detection kit consists
of 10 plates, 96 wells, and costs between 1000 and 2000 Euros. Besides, it takes about
3 days to run an assay. The detection kit may be used for the possible diagnosis of TB.
( j) Cell-based ELISAs by
R&D Systems (2009)
The company states that their R&D Systems Cell-based ELISAs are designed to measure
phosphorylated and total proteins in the same microplate well without the lysis of cells.
The company emphasizes that the fluorescence signal derived from the phosphor-protein
in the same well allows for the accurate correction of well-to-well variabilities such as
differences in cell numbers. Their cell-based ELISAs are for research purposes only and it
takes about 5 h to get results.
