Newark, DE – March 1, 2010. Accugenix announces AccuPRO-ID™, a new proteotypic microbial identification method for routine environmental monitoring and primary screening of bacterial organisms. This method of identification utilizes MALDI-TOF (matrix assisted laser desorption/ ionization – time of flight) technology, based on mass spectrometry, thus providing higher accuracy at a lower cost to customers currently using biochemical methods. Accugenix is the industry’s first service laboratory to offer a cGMP identification service using this method.
AccuPRO-ID™ is an ideal choice for organizations that need routine bacterial identification, but with greater accuracy and confidence than dated phenotypic methods offer. Traditional card-based colorimetric technologies typically lack the library coverage and detection capabilities to keep pace with today’s constantly changing taxonomy requirements. The validated AccuPRO-ID™ library is derived from Accugenix’s experience with genetic testing methods and frequency of occurrence data from over 500,000 microorganisms identified during the past decade. A significant improvement of 30-40% in accuracy over existing phenotypic methods has been demonstrated.
“This new service offering allows us to meet our customer’s needs for a routine screening tool at a cost considerably lower than their current in-house methods”, according to Doug Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Accugenix. “Additionally, part of this new service includes automatic retesting of the sample through our genetic sequencing process, at no additional cost, for any sample that exhibits an undefined result, so we’re virtually eliminating the possibility of ‘No Match” results.
The AccuPRO-ID™ testing process utilizes ribosomal proteins for identification, which are always present in very high numbers in bacteria. Organisms ultimately reveal a unique protein fingerprint, or spectra, that is then compared to a validated, proprietary database for identification. With this new service, Accugenix expands its microbial identification services to provide the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, cosmetics, nutraceutical, and other manufacturers with a high value/low cost solution for their routine environmental monitoring and screening needs. The Company’s sequenced-based genetic microbial identification services, considered the industry’s “gold standard”, remains the tool of choice for moderate and complex applications, such as high-risk manufacturing, sterility failures, and testing for sterile fill facilities.
About Accugenix:
For over 20 years, Accugenix has been the world’s leading FDA-registered, cGMP service laboratory for microbial identification and characterization. The company has tested and identified more microorganisms than any other industrial company or service laboratory, which has allowed Accugenix to develop and refine a validated proprietary library and method of interpretation unrivaled in industry. More than 1000 facilities around the world rely on the company’s expertise to meet their microbial identification needs.
