A leading Immuno-Magnetic diagnostics company: Matrix MicroScience

Matrix MicroScience founded in 2000 is a leading Immuno-Magnetic diagnostics company that has developed patented products for the rapid detection of pathogens in the Food, Environmental and Bio-Threat Sectors. Matrix has focused on the development of diagnostics for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Campylobacter spp. C. sakazakii, MAP, E. coli O157 (plus other serotypes) and Viruses. Many of these tests have achieved multiple AOAC RI approvals.

PATHATRIX® is the ultimate high volume immuno‐magnetic separation method for the rapid detection of a broad range of pathogens and spoilage organisms, both bacterial and viral from a wide variety of complex sample matrices. Using either antibody coated or ionically charged paramagnetic particles, PATHATRIX® selectively binds, purifies and concentrates the target organisms from a variety of food, environmental and bio‐threat samples.

With its well respected technology PATHATRIX® is used across the world by the food and ingredient industry including some of the largest multinational food companies and contact laboratories, government agencies, universities and research establishments. PATHATRIX® has been successfully deployed in real life Salmonella spp, E.coli O157 and Hepatitis A outbreaks from contaminated food, it has enables food companies and regulatory authorities to rapidly identify the source of contamination all the way down to the individual farmer's field.

In July 2009 Matrix MicroScience launched its new, fully automated PATHATRIX®  Auto to an invited audience of world leading scientists, at the IAFP 96th Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas. The PATHATRIX® Auto uses unique patented technology to analyse large sample volumes by re‐circulating the sample over a 'capture phase' where the paramagnetic particles have been immobilised.

The target organisms are captured by the beads, which are then washed and concentrated automatically by the PATHATRIX® system. Once the target organism has been captured and purified, samples can be analysed using a variety of detection methodologies, including selective agar plating, PCR, lateral flow immunoassays and ELISA. By concentrating and purifying the target the time to result is reduced and the sensitivity of the end-point detection technology is improved, there is also a reduction in false positive and indeterminate results.  PATHATRIX® allows the isolation of viable cells enabling a full and detailed analysis of any positive results

PATHATRIX® Auto requires less than one minute hands‐on time per test and utilises a proven technology, which can be adopted in any microbiology laboratory with minimal retraining.

A standard 25‐375 g food sample is homogenised with 225‐1000 ml of growth media and incubated for 4‐18 hours as required. The PATHATRIX® beads specific to the target pathogen are then added to the sample. The sample is loaded into the PATHATRIX® cartridge using a proprietary Matrix consumable pack. The cartridge is then inserted into the PATHATRIX® instrument and the process started with the touch of a button. Once loaded, the workstation is pre‐programmed to run automatically for 15 minutes.

After the run, the retrieved PATHATRIX® bead sample complex can be plated directly onto selective media and incubated overnight for visualisation the following morning. Alternatively the beads can be analysed directly using PCR, ELISA or lateral flow to obtain a very rapid result; with still the option to plate onto agar to produce a viable culture for further testing.

There are a variety of PATHATRIX® tests that enable results to be obtained within as little as 4‐24 hours from point of sample to result, PATHATRIX® protocols have been used extensively with numerous different sample types, since it was launched eight years ago. It has also enabled the introduction of a cost saving, but effective pooling system. PATHATRIX® pooling involves taking 10 ml sub‐samples from five individual pre-enriched samples and combining them to create a 50 ml pooled sample, which can then be analysed by a single PATHATRIX® run.

If the sample is positive, the original individual pre-enriched samples can be re‐tested separately to determine which of the samples are positive. However, if the pooled sample is negative, then no further analysis is required. This rapid and cost effective screening strategy for all samples can be employed for up to a maximum of 10 samples creating saving of greater than 80% on the cost of the testing.

The benefits of PATHATRIX® Auto include:

• Fully automated – at the push of a button, with a 15 minute run time
• High sample throughput – 150 samples per hour
• Large sample volume – 10‐60 ml
• Run different protocols simultaneously
• Universal protocols – minimal training
• Fully compatible with a variety of detection methods, for example PCR, ELISA, lateral flow or agar plates

To compliment  its wide range of standard products Matrix also offer a custom coating service allowing companies, regulators and researchers to develop their own specific immuno-magnetic beads for use in PATHATRIX®. The custom coating service can utilise the clients own antibodies; source them from commercially available antibodies or we can offer to generate polyclonal antibodies against a target micro-organism to meet their precise needs. There is even a custom coating kit available for researchers to undertake the coating in their own laboratory, this is of major benefit for commercially sensitive and bio-threat organisms where strict security is required. Full technical assistance and protocols are available for all aspects of this custom coating service.

Matrix has research and development laboratories together with production facilities in Newmarket UK, they are BSI 9001: 2000 registered. The technical team at Matrix offers method development for customers who have specific or difficult sample matrices. Samples of the material can be sent to the technical laboratory where a full evaluation is undertaken; the department then produces a full technical report highlighting any modification to the standard protocols that may be required. The main USA office and distribution hub is based in Golden Colorado, further support offices are in California and Chicago. Agents, covering all region of the globe are based in Canada, China Japan amongst other places; ensure that all our multinational customers have a regional contact, making the supply of equipment and kits and technical help as easy as possible and local.