Background:
Immunoassay-based diagnostics in veterinary medicine is hindered because antigens vary from species to species and immunoassay reagents used in human diagnostics cannot generally be used on other mammalian species.
State-of-the-art:
Immunoa ssays for human diagnostics are used occasionally in veterinary laboratories, however without specific calibration and only arbitrary units are reported. A few specialised products are available, for example, a CRP immunoassay from LifeAssays in 2009 diag noses inflammation in dogs. The assay is dog specific and will not work on other mammalian species.
While a wide range of standard clinical chemistry diagnostic tests are available for in-house diagnostic use in veterinary clinics, only a very few immunol ogical parameters can be measured directly by the veterinarian in-house. Lateral flow immunoassays, which are easy to handle and deliver fast results, provide only qualitative results. To make more immunological parameters available for veterinary in-hous e diagnostics an easy to use and flexible method has to be developed which provides the vet with fast and reliable quantitative results.
Three major obstacles must be overcome:
1. Immunoassays must be general so that one immunoassay serves all mammalia n species
2. Immunoassays must run on a simple-to-use, fool-proof, low-maintenance clinical chemistry platform requiring minimal operator training; and also run on other clinical chemistry platforms.
3. Immunoassays must be of robust design, homogeneous , non-separation-based and delivered in volumes that match the requirements of the modern veterinary practice.
New immunoassay technology:
Gentian has made a prototype nanoparticle-based CRP immunoassay that works on body fluids from all animals. Proof of principle has been obtained on CRP in dog, cat and swine. A patent application has been accepted.
The technology will be demonstrated by developing at least 2 commercial general immunoassays - CRP and SAA.