Bio-Techne Unveils a New Multi-Analyte Cartridge Format for the Ella™ Immunoassay Platform, Improving Sample Throughput

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Sep 20, 2017, 07:30 ET

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ProteinSimple®, a Bio-Techne brand, announced today an expansion of the Ella immunoassay platform with the launch of a 32x4 Simple Plex™ cartridge. This new cartridge simultaneously measures up to 32 different samples from serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants and other bodily fluids against four different analytes of interest. Doubling the current sample throughput while maintaining a total immunoassay time of 85 minutes, this new cartridge enables greater efficiency at a lower cost per reportable result. Simple Plex assays are powered by R&D Systems® antibodies, the recognized global leader in antibody, cytokine and chemokine research. R&D Systems provides a continuously expanding menu of assays for the Simple Plex line supporting multiple species that currently consists of over 200 assays.

Simple Plex immunoassays run on the fully automated Ella platform and have the same specificity of the "gold standard" ELISA without some of the challenges associated with traditional ELISAs.The automated nature of the Ella platform and Simple Plex cartridges eliminates these manual steps, delivering better precision and a greater dynamic range of 4-5 logs when compared to traditional ELISAs. Simple Plex assays also offer improved sensitivity at pg/ml detection limits while using less sample than other methods. The new 32x4 cartridge will support larger studies in both early discovery and clinical research.

The Simple Plex cartridge comes preloaded with analyte specific capture and detection antibodies, as well as the detection reagents. A factory calibrated standard curve is provided with each cartridge, eliminating the need to prepare a standard curve for each assay. The workflow used for Simple Plex assays is simple; samples are added to the cartridge, the barcode is scanned, and the cartridge is loaded into the Ella instrument. Ella automatically processes and reads the cartridge, providing fully analyzed results in one hour.

"The Ella platform coupled with our new 32x4 Simple Plex cartridge meets the continued request of our global immunoassay customer base to deliver solutions that enable higher throughput immunoassays while maintaining an ease of use not offered by other products on the market," commented Bob Gavin, Senior Vice President of Bio-Techne's Protein Platforms Division. "We are confident that this new cartridge will increase efficiency and throughput for our customers in their target validation and clinical research."

Meet the latest member of the Simple Plex family at www.proteinsimple.com.

About ProteinSimple

ProteinSimple is part of the Protein Platforms division of Bio-Techne (NASDAQ: TECH) with a goal to simply help researchers gain a better understanding of proteins and their role in disease, by making protein analysis simpler, more quantitative and affordable. ProteinSimple develops and commercializes proprietary systems and consumables for protein analysis that ultimately help reveal new insights into the true nature of proteins. ProteinSimple offers a comprehensive portfolio of tools that includes Simple Western™ systems that quantify protein expression, Simple Plex for high performance immunoassay, and Biologics systems that probe the structure and purity of protein-based therapeutics. ProteinSimple has over 200 employees, more than 14,000 systems installed around the world, and main offices in Santa Jose, California. For more information, visit www.proteinsimple.com.

Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) is a leading developer and manufacturer of high quality purified proteins––notably cytokines and growth factors, antibodies, immunoassays, as well as biologically active small molecule compounds and ACD's in situ hybridization detection products --- which are sold to biomedical researchers and clinical research laboratories; these operations constitute the core Biotechnology Division, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Protein Platforms Division manufactures innovative protein analysis tools under the ProteinSimple brand name that greatly automate western blotting and immunoassay practices. The Diagnostics Division manufactures FDA-regulated controls, calibrators, blood gas and clinical chemistry controls and other reagents for OEM customer and clinical customers. Bio-Techne products are integral components of scientific investigations into biological processes and the nature and progress of specific diseases. They aid in drug discovery efforts and provide the means for accurate clinical tests and diagnoses. With thousands of products in its portfolio, Bio-Techne generated approximately $563 million in net sales in fiscal 2017 and has approximately 1,800 employees worldwide. For more information on Bio-Techne and its brands, please visit www.bio-techne.com.