Plates for diagnosing and monitoring infections

Millipore and Oxford Immunotec have announced the co-development of a specially designed microtitre plate for use in clinical diagnostics kits

The new plate further advances the simplicity, cost-effectiveness and performance of Oxford Immunotec's proprietary T-Spot technology.

This is the first eight-well strip-based plate customised for use in enzyme-linked immunospot (Elispot) methodology compared with typical 96-well plates.

It is more economical for users to select the number of wells they require and reduce waste as a result.

Utilising Millipore's Elispot technology with Immobilon-P membrane, users can rely on the quality and accuracy of the product say the companies.

Peter Wrighton-Smith, CEO of Oxford Immunotec, commented: "We have been consistently impressed by Millipore as a collaboration partner.

"It has delivered a state-of-the art product on time and on budget.

"Pairing our pre-eminent T-Spot technology for diagnosing and monitoring infectious diseases with a flexible multi-well platform is a key step forward in integrating this test worldwide".

Oxford Immunotec will incorporate the plate into a second generation of its T-Spot TB test kit, a revolutionary new test for tuberculosis.

This, it says, is set to replace the 100-year old skin test currently used to diagnose this resurgent disease.

Incorporating the new plate will provide greater flexibility and improved performance, while lowering the cost of administering the test.

"Millipore is committed to aligning itself with technology leaders, such as Oxford Immunotec, for the delivery of leading-edge products," said Jonathan DiVincenzo, vice president of R and D and marketing for Millipore's bioscience division.

"The first use of the new plate is a test that will greatly improve the control of one of the world's most profound health problems".

The two companies entered into this partnership in September 2004.

Currently, the plates are in production.

Oxford Immunotec has exclusive rights to use the plates for in vitro diagnostics with its T-Spot assay kits.

Oxford Immunotec, a T cell diagnostics company, is headquartered near Oxford, UK.

The company develops and sells clinical diagnostic products based on its patented T Spot technology, which opens up new ways of diagnosing and monitoring infections.

T Spot is described as a simple and extremely accurate method of studying a person's cellular immune response to infection and can be applied to diagnose and monitor any major disease driven by a T-cell response.

T-Spot TB is an in vitro T-cell activation assay used for diagnosing TB infection and the first product from Oxford Immunotec using the T-Spot technology.

The product is described as extremely robust in that it gives a result every time and offers unrivalled and maintained sensitivity in high risk and immunocompromised patient groups.

T-Spot TB is approved for sale in Europe and is designed to replace the 115 year-old tuberculin skin test.

As such it offers a substantially more accurate and effective tool for controlling the spread of TB, addressing a market of £600m.

Millipore is a bioprocess and bioscience products and services company, organised into two divisions.

The bioprocess division offers systems that optimise development and manufacturing of biologics.

The bioscience division provides high performance products and application insights that improve laboratory productivity.

Millipore says it has a deep understanding of its customers' research and manufacturing process needs, and offers reliable and innovative tools, technologies and services.

The company employs approximately 4500 people worldwide and posted revenues of $883 million in 2004.

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