New High-Throughput Method To Detect Melamine In Food - MDS Analytical Technologies

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 31 Oct 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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MDS Analytical Technologies, a leader in innovative solutions for drug discovery and life-sciences research, today announced that the Abraxis Melamine Detection Kit has been validated for use on MDS Analytical Technologies' SpectraMax® absorbance microplate readers with SoftMax® Pro 5 GxP analytical software, an industry-standard analysis software for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.

This solution from MDS Analytical Technologies offers a cost-effective, high-throughput, quality-assurance solution to detect melamine contamination in such food products as milk, infant formula, pet food, and confectionery.

Melamine, an organic industrial polymer, has recently been found in various foods and, if undetected, may cause serious illness or death. This enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) solution will enable quality-assurance technicians in food-safety laboratories to easily detect the presence of melamine down to 10 parts per billion (ppb).

"Recent stories of melamine-related illnesses and deaths have made melamine contamination a serious concern," said Andy Boorn, President of MDS Analytical Technologies. "The pre-programmed melamine protocol in SoftMax Pro 5 GxP software, combined with our microplate readers, enables us to offer a more-complete high-throughput solution to better address what has become an increasingly important consumer safety issue."

This solution further enables MDS Analytical Technologies to expand its offering in applied markets. MDS Analytical Technologies also offers a mass spectrometry-based solution for food safety testing introduced earlier this year through its joint venture partnership with Applied Biosystems.

"The teams at both companies are excited to offer a cost-effective, highly sensitive quality-control solution for the detection of melamine," said Fernando M. Rubio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Abraxis LLC. "Our collaboration with MDS Analytical Technologies has provided the food industry throughout the world with an easy and affordable method to ensure foods have not been contaminated by melamine."

SpectraMax® microplate readers can be integrated with the MDS Analytical Technologies' StakMax® microplate handling system. Technicians may also configure the StakMax® system with MDS Analytical Technologies' AquaMax® 4000 microplate washer. These combinations can be used to maximize throughput while minimizing manual plate handling.

To download application notes on this method, please visit http://www.moleculardevices.com/melamine or customers can call our Customer Service department at +1 (408) 747-1700 to speak to a sales representative.

About SpectraMax® Absorbance Microplate Readers

Molecular Devices, now part of MDS Analytical Technologies, is a leading supplier of microplate reader systems to academic, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology research groups worldwide. The Company offers several multi-mode detection systems for ELISAs, including SpectraMax® M5e and SpectraMax® M2e microplate readers, and SpectraMax® 340 PC, VersaMax™, VMax®, and EMax® single-mode microplate readers. The Company's SpectraMax® patented technologies, such as PathCheck® well-volume detection, dual-monochromators, and SmartOptics design, enable researchers more flexibility, sensitivity, and ease-of-use for the broadest range of assays. The PathCheck® sensor is the only patented technology available that measures the depth (optical pathlength) of a sample in a microplate. When combined with SoftMax® Pro software, it automatically normalizes the well absorbance to a cuvette equivalent path-length of one centimeter. The patented dual-monochromator design uses two scanning monochromators to determine optimal excitation and emission settings, eliminating the need for expensive filters. Find out more at http://www.moleculardevices.com/pages/instruments/readers_main.html.

About SoftMax® Pro 5 GxP Analytical Software

SoftMax® Pro 5 GxP analytical software, which is FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant, raises the bar for microplate data acquisition and analysis. This software solution, which runs on all microplate readers offered by MDS Analytical Technologies, offers significant enhancements over previous releases, including five parameter (5PL) logistic curve fitting; parallel line analysis (PLA) with observation weighting; more than 120 ready-to-run assay protocols for instant results generation; native support for Mac OS X; XML export and multiple-destination AutoSave with new options; enhanced Windows Interprocess Messaging for better robotics/LIMS/SDMS integration; more detailed printed headers and footers; and full backwards-compatibility. Find out more at http://www.moleculardevices.com/pages/software/softmax.html.

About Abraxis LLC>

Abraxis LLC is a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and delivery of core technologies that offer customers more effective, real time testing solutions for a safer environment and food supply. The company's portfolio includes diagnostic tests for endocrine disrupting chemicals, antibiotics, pesticides, industrial chemicals, toxic organics, surfactants, marine biotoxins, cyanotoxins, mycotoxins, and veterinary residues. For more information about the company and its products, please visit http://www.abraxiskits.com.

About MDS Analytical Technologies

MDS Analytical Technologies, a business unit of MDS Inc., is focused on the research, design, manufacture and marketing of state-of-the-art tools for mass-spectrometry, drug discovery and bioresearch. MDS Analytical Technologies' products are designed to help accelerate the complex process of discovering and developing new drug compounds, and are sold to research scientists around the world. The mass-spectrometer product lines are also sold globally through joint ventures with two of the world's leading analytical instrumentation and life sciences companies, Applied Biosystems, Inc. and PerkinElmer, Inc. Find out more at http://www.moleculardevices.com or http://www.mdssciex.com.

About MDS Inc.

MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ) is a global life-sciences company that provides market-leading products and services that our customers need for the development of drugs and diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are a leading global provider of pharmaceutical contract research, medical isotopes for molecular imaging, radiotherapeutics, and analytical instruments. MDS Inc. has more than 5,500 highly skilled people in 29 countries. http://www.mdsinc.com

Source

Cheri Salazar
MDS Analytical Technologies
and
Kim Lee
MDS Inc.