Bio-Rad Launches Bio-Plex Pro Human SARS-CoV-2 Variant Neutralization Antibody Assays

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 21 Dec 2021

Image: Bio-Rad SARS-CoV-2 Assay (Photo courtesy of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.)

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (Hercules, CA, USA) has launched Bio-Plex Pro Human SARS-CoV-2 Variant Neutralization Antibody Assays that allow scientists to measure neutralizing antibodies quickly and efficiently against wild-type and significant variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The Bio-Plex Pro Human SARS-CoV-2 Variant Neutralization Antibody 11-Plex Panel is a ready-to-use 96-well kit containing premixed magnetic capture beads, a detection ACE2 receptor, a standard and positive control, and buffers that measure levels of neutralizing antibodies and percentage inhibition of the ACE2 receptor binding the viral antigens coupled on the beads. The assays are offered in an 11-plex complete all-in-one kit format that consists of the wild-type RBD and S1 and 9 variant antigens, as well as customizable singleplex assays, 2-plex Delta variant coupled beads, and a custom Assay Developer Kit to create assays to any new SARS-CoV-2 variant such as - Omicron - for maximum flexibility. The assay requires only 15 microliters of sample when running duplicates.

The singleplex variant coupled beads and 2-Plex Delta RBD and Spike Trimer coupled beads with its own positive control enable measurement of neutralizing antibodies specific to viral variants of interest and improve laboratory efficiency by generating key actionable data in a single experiment. The assays are compatible with RUO Bio-Rad platforms, including the Bio-Plex 200 and Bio-Plex 3D Multiplex Immunoassay Systems, as well as all other RUO xMAP platforms.

Scientists developing vaccines and therapeutics can determine the efficacy of their product from development through all the clinical phases. Epidemiologists can perform seroprevalence studies to better understand the longevity of the neutralizing antibody response from infection or vaccination. Compared to using traditional cell-based assays and ELISA tests, researchers can increase their throughput when using the multiplex Bio-Plex Pro Assays.

"As variants of interest and concern become the predominant forms of SARS-CoV-2 infecting populations, it’s critical to understand whether the antibodies, elicited by a prior COVID-19 infection or vaccination, are still able to neutralize the circulating virus variants,” said Candice Cox, Bio-Rad Immunoassays Marketing Manager, Life Science Group. “We are pleased to be able to add these neutralizing antibody assays to our offering of existing Bio-Plex Pro IgA, IgG, and IgM 4-plex serology kits for COVID-19 related research in vaccine development and postmarket surveillance studies."

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