Dedicated UPLC/MS System Solutions Taking on Increased Challenges in Laboratories for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Disease Management, Endocrinology, and Toxicology
CHICAGO, July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At this year’s American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) meeting, Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) is introducing clinical scientists to its expanded portfolio of new products for clinical and research laboratories including a new research use only (RUO) kit for quantitative measurement of Tacrolimus, Sirolimus, Everolimus, and Cyclosporin A. A highlight of the AACC meeting, the Waters(R) MassTrak(TM) Immunosuppressants XE RUO Kit provides laboratories an alternative to immunoassay test kits for research laboratory analyses. This and other Waters system platform solutions for amino acid analysis and for vitamin D clinical research laboratories are on display at the AACC Annual Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo, July 19 - 23 in Chicago.
The MassTrak Immunosuppressants XE RUO Kit is for clinical research laboratories seeking an alternative to immunoassay kits for quantitative measurement of immunosuppressant drug levels. Each kit includes reagents, controls, and calibrators, a tuning mixture for the mass spectrometer, and an analytical column for performing up to 500 determinations /kit. Used with Waters ACQUITY TQD System, the MassTrak Immunosuppressants XE RUO Kit achieves high specificity in measuring the target analyte in the presence of drug metabolites and addresses some of the analytical weaknesses of immunoassay immunosuppressant drug measurement.
The new MassTrak Immunosuppressants XE RUO Kit is one of several innovative applications for LC/MS/MS that Waters is spotlighting at AACC 2009.
Vitamin D Analysis
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes and other maladies. In the United States testing for vitamin D has increased by 80-90 percent since 2007. For the first time at AACC, Waters will exhibit a system platform optimized for 25-Hydroxyvitamin D analysis for clinical research laboratories. This analytical system and methodology features a robotic liquid handling system and Waters ACQUITY TQD System for high-throughput measurement of total 25-Hydroxyvitamin as well as 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3.
The test method features a solid-phase extraction sample preparation step that minimizes solvent usage, enhances automation, eliminates the need for solvent evaporation and sample reconstitution. Further information on the new method is included in a new product handout available online from Waters (Part No. 720003044EN).
Amino Acid Analysis
Over the past 50 years, amino acid analysis has come to be recognized as a cornerstone in the nutritional and metabolic research laboratory. At AACC, Waters is featuring its MassTrak Amino Acid Analysis Solution, a comprehensive approach to the full profile analysis of physiological amino acids in urine and plasma in a research environment. This solution incorporates a Waters ACQUITY UPLC system with pre-packaged, fully tested reagents and consumables, pre-defined analytical, processing and reporting methods and dedicated support, training and installation services from Waters for the fastest possible start-up and continued productivity in the clinical research laboratory.
Clinical Toxicology
LC/MS/MS is now widely used in confirmation analysis in clinical toxicology. The sensitivity, speed, selectivity and simple sample pre-treatment requirements have led to LC/MS/MS methods being adopted as the preferred choice for many important applications. At AACC, Waters will exhibit its ACQUITY UPLC system and tandem mass spectrometry products for this fast-growing application area.
In connection with this area of clinical analysis, Waters has posted two video testimonials featuring CEO Dr. Frank Fornari of Dominion Diagnostics of North Kingstown, Rhode Island (USA) discussing his firm’s ability to provide additional expert services in the area of pain management and Dr. Michael Evans of AIT Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana (USA) discussing his laboratory’s applications for Waters LC/MS/MS products in the area of pain management and forensic toxicology.
For Further Information
Waters is sponsoring an industry workshop on Wednesday, July 22, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park Hotel at 200 North Columbus Drive in the Moulin Rouge Room. This workshop will feature several prominent industry scientists speaking about their applications for LC/MS/MS in the areas of vitamin D analysis and drugs of abuse testing. For more information on this workshop, LC/MS/MS poster presentations, and Waters products at AACC, go here.
LC/MS/MS for the Clinical Laboratory
LC/MS/MS is now finding a role in the routine clinical laboratory, with many laboratories using the technique for a variety of testing including toxicology, therapeutic drug monitoring and endocrinology. Improvements in assay performance, usability, reliability and software capabilities are key drivers for its adoption. Waters introduction of innovative system platforms, standardized methods and reagents to support these solution requirements are enabling more laboratories to adopt this powerful analytical approach.
In 2007, Waters received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a first-of-its-kind commercially available kit specifically designed to quantify the immunosuppressant tacrolimus in kidney and liver transplant patients by LC/MS/MS.
About Waters Corporation (www.waters.com)
Waters Corporation creates business advantage for laboratory-dependent organizations by delivering practical and sustainable innovation to enable significant advancements in such areas as healthcare delivery, environmental management, food safety, and water quality worldwide.
Pioneering a connected portfolio of separations science, laboratory information management, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis, Waters technology breakthroughs and laboratory solutions provide an enduring platform for customer success.
With revenue of $1.58 billion in 2008 and 5,000 employees, Waters is driving scientific discovery and operational excellence for customers worldwide.
Waters, MassTrak, ACQUITY, ACQUITY UPLC, UltraPerformance LC, and UPLC are trademarks of Waters Corporation.
SOURCE Waters Corporation
