Amplifying Precision
High-quality Reagents for Multiplex Respiratory Point-of-Care (POC) Assays
Multiplex assays for respiratory diseases are particularly challenging due to the potential for cross-reactivity between pathogens and the high sample complexity. Respiratory specimens often contain various types of cells, mucus, and other components that can interfere with a test and affect assay accuracy.
Meridian offers both highly sensitive and specific reagent solutions for rapid immunoassays and molecular (qPCR and LAMP) techniques to meet your needs. Read our whitepaper to learn more through real-world case studies!
Point-of-Care (POC) Respiratory Testing
The field of Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics for respiratory diseases has experienced rapid advancements, with the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzing the development and widespread adoption of POC respiratory testing. Both paper-based immunodiagnostics and microfluidic molecular devices have received particular attention for the development of POCT assays (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2023.341283). However, POC multiplex assays for respiratory diseases pose considerable challenges, primarily due to the potential for cross-reactivity among different pathogens and the intricate composition of respiratory specimens.
Diagnostic Assay Solutions for Top 3 Viral Infections
Influenza A/B
Diagnostic influenza (flu) tests include rapid assays (RIDTs), direct fluorescent antibody stains, and molecular assays. Meridian’s flu A antibody pairs have proven high binding affinity for superior performance in lateral flow applications. Saliva-specific master mixes are also ideal for direct detection POC assays.
SARS-CoV-2
Both rapid antigen and molecular assays are important testing methods for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Meridian’s antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein are found in rapid tests around the world and our inhibitor-tolerant master mixes are ideal for point-of-care direct detection assays.
RSV
Rapid antigen detection assays supplemented with immunofluorescence to confirm diagnosis is a common testing algorithm for RSV. Molecular testing is also popular and provides very sensitive and specific results. Meridian’s paired RSV antibodies and qPCR and LAMP master mixes provide ideal solutions for either test type.
Multiplex Rapid Lateral Flow Assays
Multiplex rapid lateral flow assays for respiratory infections such as the flu, COVID, and RSV offer an efficient testing solution. However, due to differences in the viral strains, viral loads, and sample types, balancing high assay sensitivity and specificity can be complex, especially if the viruses share genetic or antigenic similarities, leading to potential cross-reactivity.
Meridian’s monoclonal antibodies for Flu A, Flu B, COVID, and RSV are designed for low cross-reactivity and high sensitivity, ideal for lateral flow rapid multiplex tests for COVID/FLU/RSV.
Molecular Respiratory Assays
Multiplex molecular assays are challenging to develop as the assay must detect different targets to the same level of accuracy and sensitivity as a single test. Meridian specializes in enzymes and master mixes for RT-qPCR and RT-LAMP that are designed for fast and sensitive amplification over a wide dynamic range. The key difference in Meridian’s molecular reagents is their optimization for top performance in the presence of PCR inhibitors. By enhancing inhibitor tolerance of the mixes and enzymes, Meridian’s reagents can achieve higher sensitivity and greater assay reliability.
