Technology for dummies!
At Alere we are experts in immunoassays – but what are they?
o Immunoassays are tests where the presence of a molecule is detected using one or more antibodies.
o Antibodies are themselves complex biological molecules that are designed to recognize other molecules as part of an immune response, e.g. when a person gets ‘flu, the symptoms they experience are uncomfortable but result in production of antibodies that usually prevent them from contracting the same strain again. They do this because in future they will recognize and neutralize the molecules on the surface of that strain, preventing them from causing illness.
o Vaccination is based on this principle – the immune system is exposed to molecules from small parts of a virus or bacteria to generate immunity so that when the whole bacteria or virus is encountered, it does not cause illness.
o Current cancer medicines utilize antibodies as targeting agents, docking onto cell surface receptors only associate with tumour cells.
o The clever scientists at Alere can take antibodies to molecules of interest, such as those involved in congestive heart failure, and use them to detect those molecules. They do this by attaching the antibodies to micro-particles capable of generating a detectable signal, such that more signal is produced when more molecules are present.
o Micro-particles are commonly used in the cosmetics industry – as micro-scrubbers in face wash formulas, as a key component in many sun-protection creams, and as filler in foundation cream and other make-up formulations.
o Have you ever used an immunoassay before? If you’re female and have used a pregnancy test then the answer is yes! A pregnancy test is about the simplest immunoassay ever invented – technology which our parent company Inverness Medical Innovations owns.
o And if you’ve ever had a drugs-screen test then they are commonly dip-stick tests similar to pregnancy tests, but using saliva.