We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. serves customers who are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytica... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App





World's First Fully Integrated LC-MS/MS Clinical Analyzer Unveiled

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 03 Aug 2017
Print article
Image: The Cascadion SM clinical lab analyzer (Photo courtesy of Thermo Fisher Scientific).
Image: The Cascadion SM clinical lab analyzer (Photo courtesy of Thermo Fisher Scientific).
A next-generation diagnostic system brings together the convenience of clinical analyzers with the selectivity and sensitivity of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The fully-automated Cascadion SM clinical analyzer system was developed by Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham, MA, USA) for use by non-experts in a variety of clinical settings including hospital laboratories, and to provide results for a range of frequently ordered clinical diagnostic tests.

The new Cascadion SM clinical analyzer was presented to the European market at the EuroMedLab 2017 meeting last June in Athens, Greece, and unveiled to the US clinical lab community at this year's AACC Clinical Lab Expo held in August at San Diego, CA. As a major benefit, the system can be operated by clinical laboratory staff without special training in LC-MS/MS technology.

Assays in development for the Cascadion system include those for 25OH Vitamin D, Total Testosterone, and a panel of Immunosuppressant drugs. Such diagnostic tests are projected to be launched once appropriate regulatory requirements for each country or region have been fulfilled. Development pipeline for the system includes tests for therapeutic drug monitoring, drugs of abuse, and endocrinology.

"This is a marvelous development, and it is really quite outstanding. It will fulfill the needs of many laboratories," said Prof. Brian Keevil, consultant clinical scientist and head of the Clinical Biochemistry Department, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, UK, after viewing a demonstration during EuroMedLab 2017.

James Nichols, PhD, medical director, Chemistry and Point of Care Testing, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, added, "For much of what we do in terms of chromatography and mass spectrometry, we need very highly skilled and experienced medical technologists. The Cascadion analyzer is relatively maintenance-free and because it includes specially designed reagent kits, there is not a lot of interaction required with the technology."

The Cascadion SM clinical analyzer system combines assays, software, accessories, consumables, support, and service in a stand-alone system designed to meet the regulatory requirements for routine and specialized clinical testing. The fully-automated sample-in and result-out system incorporates advanced development features including: gold standard mass spectrometry technology, complete assay kits for standardized results, traceability of results to reagent lots, automated sample preparation, LIS connectivity to maximize productivity, a turnkey solution from one supplier for easy implementation, and random access workflow for fast turnaround times.

The Cascadion system was designed and built using Thermo Fisher products and technologies combined with its industry-leading expertise in mass spectrometry. Tandem mass spectrometry, also known as MS/MS or MS2, involves multiple steps of mass spectrometry selection, with some form of fragmentation occurring in between the stages. In a tandem mass spectrometer, ions are formed in the ion source and separated by mass-to-charge ratio in the first stage of mass spectrometry (MS1). Ions of a particular mass-to-charge ratio (precursor ions) are selected and fragment ions (product ions) are created by collision-induced dissociation, ion-molecule reaction, photodissociation, or other process. The resulting ions are then separated and detected in a second stage of mass spectrometry (MS2).

After previewing the Cascadion analyzer, Michael Vogeser, senior physician and professor of laboratory medicine, University Hospital of Munich, stated "About 70% of all physician's decisions are based on laboratory tests, so the impact on laboratory testing is huge and this completely new technological approach is of enormous value to mankind."

While the instrument is still in final stages of development and not yet available for sale, CE marking and US FDA 510(k) clearance are currently being applied for by Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Platinum Supplier
Xylazine Immunoassay Test
Xylazine ELISA
Gold Supplier
ESR Analyzer
miniiSED™
New
WBC Diffrential System
HemoCue WBC DIFF
New
HE4 Assay
Human Epididymal Protein 4 (HE4) CLIA Kit

Print article
GLOBETECH PUBLISHING LLC

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The new assays are designed to run on the B•R•A•H•M•S KRYPTOR compact PLUS clinical chemistry analyzer (Photo courtesy of Thermo Fisher)

Breakthrough Immunoassays to Aid in Risk Assessment of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening blood pressure condition that can arise during pregnancy and the postpartum phase. This severe pregnancy complication is a primary cause of maternal and fetal mortality... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The ClarityDX Prostate test can reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies by up to 35% (Photo courtesy of Nanostics)

Innovative Blood Test to Revolutionize Prostate Cancer Detection and Reduce Invasive Biopsies

One in six men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during their lives. Thankfully, if caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable. However, the existing screening process has its limitations.... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The latest FDA clearance has finally brought HemoScreen to its full potential as a true POC hematology analyzer (Photo courtesy of PixCell)

True POC Hematology Analyzer with Direct Capillary Sampling Enhances Ease-of-Use and Testing Throughput

An innovative 5-part differential Complete Blood Count (CBC) analyzer with direct capillary sampling capability significantly simplifies blood sampling and minimizes the pre-analytical process.... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A new test could detect the body’s adaptive immune response to viruses (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Predictive T-Cell Test Detects Immune Response to Viruses Even Before Antibodies Form

The adaptive immune system is an incredible defense mechanism that allows the human body to identify and mount targeted responses against specific pathogens. T-Cells, a special kind of white blood cell,... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: On-chip pretreatment and rapid AST based directly on positive blood cultures (Photo courtesy of Liu Yang)

Integrated Solution for Rapid AST Directly From Positive Blood Cultures to Combat Bloodstream Infection

The presence of living bacteria in the bloodstream, known as bacteremia, can lead to serious conditions like bloodstream infections (BSIs) and sepsis, which can often be fatal. Quickly prescribing the... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The Mitotic Counting algorithm was trained on over 100,000 individual mitosis and across seven scanner models (Photo courtesy of Gestalt Diagnostics)

New AI Algorithm for Use on Eight Types of Cancer Trained on Seven Scanner Models

A new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for use on one of the broadest trained environments is now available for commercial or research work. Gestalt Diagnostics (Spokane, WA, USA) has released the... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: A new electrochemical device can quickly and inexpensively identify people at greatest risk for osteoporosis (Photo courtesy of ACS Central Science, 2023)

Electrochemical Device Identifies People at Higher Risk for Osteoporosis Using Single Blood Drop

With the global increase in life expectancy, the incidence of age-related conditions like osteoporosis is increasing. Osteoporosis, affecting around 200 million individuals worldwide, has a higher incidence... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: AACC Middle East is a two-day conference that brings the latest in laboratory medicine to the Middle East region (Photo courtesy of ADLM)

AACC Middle East 2023 to Explore Latest Trends in Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

The AACC Middle East Conference and Exposition will be held by the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM - formerly AACC, Washington, DC, USA) in partnership with Life Dx (Abu Dhabi,... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2023 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.