Enzo’s New Portable Microplate Reader Simplifies Laboratory Workflow

The recent commercial launch in November 2020 of a new, small, portable microplate reader by Enzo Biochem, a US-based biosciences and diagnostics company, is expected to simplify laboratory workflows. The new microplate reader can be used with Enzo’s immunoassays and, ultimately, molecular diagnostics, providing new opportunities in point-of-care medicine.

The advanced design and technology of the compact microplate reader makes it possible to deliver precise and accurate results. Used together with Enzo’s proprietary software, the device can be used in a wide variety of applications based on the miniaturization of Enzo’s assays, including metabolites, hormones (e.g., pregnancy), proteins (e.g., inflammatory cytokines), and protein characterization.

The instrument provides researchers and lab professionals with a dedicated, personal device to conveniently fit their space and needs and offers accessibility not previously available. The handheld instrument is about one-tenth the size of the average benchtop plate reader, allowing it to fit into any laboratory setting and saving bench space. At the same time, the device provides new levels of flexibility and portability that can be extended to point-of-care facilities, allowing physicians to provide molecular testing, including assays for viral detection and sexually transmitted diseases.

With this new technology, point-of-care testing can move from centralized, complex clinical labs closer to patient care, Enzo stated in a Nov. 5, 2020 company press release. The technology simplifies testing procedures and opens up the opportunity to shift testing out of the hands of licensed medical technicians to healthcare professionals operating nearer to patients or, in some instances, even to patients themselves.

“Access to point-of-care testing continues to grow as technological advances in clinical diagnostic testing drive miniaturization of complex devices. Now, just as computers moved from mainframes to powerful, portable handheld devices, the same is happening within the clinical diagnostic testing industry. This reduced complexity provides high quality and precise testing capabilities to be available to a broader range of healthcare professionals involved in patient management whether they are sitting at an urgent care facility, a doctor’s office or hospital bedside,” said Kara Cannon, chief commercial officer of Enzo, in the press release.

“The point-of-care testing market, currently valued at over $18 [billion] globally, has the potential to aggressively expand to many testing needs that are now not widely available at point-of-care, including a significant portion of the $15 [billion] immunoassay testing market,” Cannon added. “Common clinical immunoassay tests, such as vitamin D testing and inflammation analysis, currently are performed regularly in the clinical central testing lab by licensed medical technologists using large, complex instrumentation. Unlike lateral flow assays, this small yet powerful system does not sacrifice sensitivity for convenience and allows for multi-assay capabilities.”

“Enzo’s corporate vision addresses new opportunities for expansion and growth within both products and services,” said Cannon in the press release. “We are serving markets including laboratories, point-of-care, and direct-to-consumer. This market launch is an important step in extending our offerings beyond the central laboratory, enabling physicians to provide clinical testing at their office, urgent care facility, or other treatment center.”

Enzo anticipates a future launch of isothermal testing on this same platform, enabling constant temperature and eliminating the need for a thermal cycler.

Source: Enzo Biochem