The pre-treatment step of your stool sample is key for optimal performance of the GPP assay. The “pre-treatment” refers to the crucial step just prior to extraction whereby we break up the stool and mechanically lyse any parasites, bacteria, or viruses present in the sample. This pre-treatment step is critical in ensuring maximum extraction efficiency, […]
Bring on xTAG® GPP (Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel): Your Patients and Physicians Will Thank You
Infectious gastroenteritis refers to an inflammation of the stomach or intestine due to an infectious organism (e.g. viruses, bacteria, and parasites). Gastrointestinal infections account for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide for patients of all ages. Immunocompromised hosts are especially susceptible to gastrointestinal infections. Gastroenteritis is the second-most common and costly hospital infection after urinary tract […]
Avoid Flushing Your Fecal Specimens: Fecal Sample Collection, Transport, Storage and Preparation
The first step in obtaining the best clinical results for PCR-based testing for viruses, parasites, and bacteria is high quality samples. Collection and handling of stool specimens is an important factor that directly relates to obtaining the best results in any clinical assay. For sample collection, fresh stool samples should be placed in a labeled, […]
xPediting xTAG® Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP)
Like many laboratorians, you’ve begun testing for respiratory viruses in your lab. Since your lab wants the most information with a highest level of throughput, you’ve chosen the xTAG® RVP assay. You’ve undoubtedly studied and learned everything there is to know about the buffers in the xTAG RVP kit, and so it is now time […]
Where Are My Beads?
You have conducted your experiment, prepared your samples, performed the initial steps of your assay, and have finally reached the moment of truth. You hit “run,” stare intently at the screen in anticipation of your results and…nothing. Still nothing. Finally your sample times out. Don’t panic. Where are your beads? Let’s take a look at […]
Have You Serviced Your MAGPIX® This Year?
In addition to your daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance of the MAGPIX® instrument, there are preventative procedures you should perform every six and twelve months to keep your unit running smoothly year-round, and to help alleviate the wear and tear on your work-horse unit. Refer to your MAGPIX User Manual for step-by-step instructions. The Daily, […]
What is DNA Methylation, and Can I Use Luminex Technology to Study It?
DNA methylation is a type of epigenetic change, and epigenetic changes are modifications to genes other than the underlying sequence of DNA or RNA. DNA methylation is essential for the normal development and functioning of many organisms and has been detected in every vertebrate examined. It is a very simple addition of a methyl group […]
Manual MagPlex® Bead Washing–Keep the Beads in Your Plate, Not the Sink!
Not using the most efficient way to wash your beads can often lead to lost sample and beads—something we try to prevent! Check out the easy steps below for ways to help your manual MagPlex® bead washing process, and help keep your beads in your plate! Method The assay plate is placed on the Luminex […]
How Well Do You Know Your Sample Probe?
Some of the most common hardware problems that occur in the field are related to the sample probe. Is your instrument failing calibration or verification? Are you getting low bead count on your assay results? This could be due to the probe height adjustment, a clog, or a bent probe. Luckily, most of these issues can be solved through […]
This Year’s Flu Vaccine – Why is it Different, and Why Does it Matter?
It’s getting close to to that time of year again, and you’re probably wondering how not to get sick with the flu, aren’t you? While Luminex can help your physician diagnose you once you get sick, wouldn’t you rather avoid the flu altogether? How do you avoid getting the flu? For most people, the easiest […]