Rapid Automated Immunoassay for HTLV I/II Antibodies Now Available
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 05 Aug 2015 |

Image: The Elecsys benchtop analyzer was designed for small to medium workloads (Photo courtesy of Roche).
An automated immunoassay for the detection of antibodies against human T-lymphotropic virus I or II (HTLV-I/II) in donated blood and routine diagnostic samples and is now available for use by blood centers and clinical laboratories.
The Roche (Basel, Switzerland) HTLV-I/II immunoassay was designed for use on the Elecsys benchtop analyzer. This IVD instrument is powered by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) technology, which provides precise and reliable patient results that contribute to better patient care.
The Elecys instrument uses two electrochemically active substances, a ruthenium complex and tripropylamine (TPA). These reagents are involved in the reaction that leads to the emission of light. Ruthenium and TPA are non-isotopic and highly stable at base state. Only when voltage is applied and the labeled compound is repeatedly excited do the reactants begin emitting photons. To start the reaction, voltage is applied between the working and counter electrode, and an electrical field is created, ensuring a precisely controlled and timed reaction.
The operation is performed on a solution containing sample and reagents that are aspirated into the measuring cell. A magnetic field is applied, and the paramagnetic beads (coated with antigen/antibody complexes bound by streptavidin-biotin) are bound to the surface of the measuring cell. ProCell solution is introduced in order to separate the bound immunoassay complexes from the free remaining particles and to provide TPA, which is essential for the ECL-reaction. The test procedure requires about 18 minutes to run a single test.
“Globally there are around 20 million people infected with HTLV-I/II, many of whom are unknown carriers. If the virus is undetected in donors, the risk of spreading the infection increases,” said Roland Diggelmann, COO of the Roche Diagnostics Division. “Roche is uniquely positioned to help blood centers improve their testing efficiency, based on our broad assay portfolio and integrated molecular and serology laboratory solutions.”
Related Links:
Roche
The Roche (Basel, Switzerland) HTLV-I/II immunoassay was designed for use on the Elecsys benchtop analyzer. This IVD instrument is powered by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) technology, which provides precise and reliable patient results that contribute to better patient care.
The Elecys instrument uses two electrochemically active substances, a ruthenium complex and tripropylamine (TPA). These reagents are involved in the reaction that leads to the emission of light. Ruthenium and TPA are non-isotopic and highly stable at base state. Only when voltage is applied and the labeled compound is repeatedly excited do the reactants begin emitting photons. To start the reaction, voltage is applied between the working and counter electrode, and an electrical field is created, ensuring a precisely controlled and timed reaction.
The operation is performed on a solution containing sample and reagents that are aspirated into the measuring cell. A magnetic field is applied, and the paramagnetic beads (coated with antigen/antibody complexes bound by streptavidin-biotin) are bound to the surface of the measuring cell. ProCell solution is introduced in order to separate the bound immunoassay complexes from the free remaining particles and to provide TPA, which is essential for the ECL-reaction. The test procedure requires about 18 minutes to run a single test.
“Globally there are around 20 million people infected with HTLV-I/II, many of whom are unknown carriers. If the virus is undetected in donors, the risk of spreading the infection increases,” said Roland Diggelmann, COO of the Roche Diagnostics Division. “Roche is uniquely positioned to help blood centers improve their testing efficiency, based on our broad assay portfolio and integrated molecular and serology laboratory solutions.”
Related Links:
Roche
Latest Hematology News
- New Guidelines Aim to Improve AL Amyloidosis Diagnosis
- Automated Hemostasis System Helps Labs of All Sizes Optimize Workflow
- Fast and Easy Test Could Revolutionize Blood Transfusions
- High-Sensitivity Blood Test Improves Assessment of Clotting Risk in Heart Disease Patients
- AI Algorithm Effectively Distinguishes Alpha Thalassemia Subtypes
- MRD Tests Could Predict Survival in Leukemia Patients
- Platelet Activity Blood Test in Middle Age Could Identify Early Alzheimer’s Risk
- Microvesicles Measurement Could Detect Vascular Injury in Sickle Cell Disease Patients
- ADLM’s New Coagulation Testing Guidance to Improve Care for Patients on Blood Thinners
- Viscoelastic Testing Could Improve Treatment of Maternal Hemorrhage
- Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments
- Platelets Could Improve Early and Minimally Invasive Detection of Cancer
- Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment
- Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results
- First Point-of-Care Heparin Monitoring Test Provides Results in Under 15 Minutes

- New Scoring System Predicts Risk of Developing Cancer from Common Blood Disorder
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
New PSA-Based Prognostic Model Improves Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among American men, and about one in eight will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Screening relies on blood levels of prostate-specific antigen... Read more
Extracellular Vesicles Linked to Heart Failure Risk in CKD Patients
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 1 in 7 Americans and is strongly associated with cardiovascular complications, which account for more than half of deaths among people with CKD.... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
Blood Test Identifies Inflammatory Breast Cancer Patients at Increased Risk of Brain Metastasis
Brain metastasis is a frequent and devastating complication in patients with inflammatory breast cancer, an aggressive subtype with limited treatment options. Despite its high incidence, the biological... Read more
Two-in-One DNA Analysis Improves Diagnostic Accuracy While Saving Time and Costs
Diagnosing developmental disorders often relies on DNA sequence analysis, but this approach can miss epigenetic context such as DNA methylation, chemical modifications that regulate whether genes are transcribed.... Read moreHematology
view channel
New Guidelines Aim to Improve AL Amyloidosis Diagnosis
Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare, life-threatening bone marrow disorder in which abnormal amyloid proteins accumulate in organs. Approximately 3,260 people in the United States are diagnosed... Read more
Fast and Easy Test Could Revolutionize Blood Transfusions
Blood transfusions are a cornerstone of modern medicine, yet red blood cells can deteriorate quietly while sitting in cold storage for weeks. Although blood units have a fixed expiration date, cells from... Read more
Automated Hemostasis System Helps Labs of All Sizes Optimize Workflow
High-volume hemostasis sections must sustain rapid turnaround while managing reruns and reflex testing. Manual tube handling and preanalytical checks can strain staff time and increase opportunities for error.... Read more
High-Sensitivity Blood Test Improves Assessment of Clotting Risk in Heart Disease Patients
Blood clotting is essential for preventing bleeding, but even small imbalances can lead to serious conditions such as thrombosis or dangerous hemorrhage. In cardiovascular disease, clinicians often struggle... Read moreImmunology
view channelBlood Test Identifies Lung Cancer Patients Who Can Benefit from Immunotherapy Drug
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options, and even newly approved immunotherapies do not benefit all patients. While immunotherapy can extend survival for some,... Read more
Whole-Genome Sequencing Approach Identifies Cancer Patients Benefitting From PARP-Inhibitor Treatment
Targeted cancer therapies such as PARP inhibitors can be highly effective, but only for patients whose tumors carry specific DNA repair defects. Identifying these patients accurately remains challenging,... Read more
Ultrasensitive Liquid Biopsy Demonstrates Efficacy in Predicting Immunotherapy Response
Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, but only a small proportion of patients experience lasting benefit, with response rates often remaining between 10% and 20%. Clinicians currently lack reliable... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Comprehensive Review Identifies Gut Microbiome Signatures Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease affects approximately 6.7 million people in the United States and nearly 50 million worldwide, yet early cognitive decline remains difficult to characterize. Increasing evidence suggests... Read moreAI-Powered Platform Enables Rapid Detection of Drug-Resistant C. Auris Pathogens
Infections caused by the pathogenic yeast Candida auris pose a significant threat to hospitalized patients, particularly those with weakened immune systems or those who have invasive medical devices.... Read morePathology
view channel
First-Of-Its-Kind Test Identifies Autism Risk at Birth
Autism spectrum disorder is treatable, and extensive research shows that early intervention can significantly improve cognitive, social, and behavioral outcomes. Yet in the United States, the average age... Read more
AI Algorithms Improve Genetic Mutation Detection in Cancer Diagnostics
Accurately identifying genetic mutations is central to cancer diagnostics and genomic research, but current methods struggle with complex sequencing data and limited clinical samples. Tumor analysis often... Read moreIndustry
view channelNew Collaboration Brings Automated Mass Spectrometry to Routine Laboratory Testing
Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique that identifies and quantifies molecules based on their mass and electrical charge. Its high selectivity, sensitivity, and accuracy make it indispensable... Read more
AI-Powered Cervical Cancer Test Set for Major Rollout in Latin America
Noul Co., a Korean company specializing in AI-based blood and cancer diagnostics, announced it will supply its intelligence (AI)-based miLab CER cervical cancer diagnostic solution to Mexico under a multi‑year... Read more
Diasorin and Fisher Scientific Enter into US Distribution Agreement for Molecular POC Platform
Diasorin (Saluggia, Italy) has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Fisher Scientific, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham, MA, USA), for the LIAISON NES molecular point-of-care... Read more







