Meridian Launches Innovative Air-Dryable qPCR Mixes Enabling Direct Detection of DNA or RNA from Urine Samples

Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH, USA) has launched two innovative Air-Dryable qPCR Mixes that enable direct detection of DNA or RNA/DNA from urine samples.

Meridian has developed these unique master mixes specifically to overcome the adverse effect of inhibitors present in crude urine samples that can affect the sensitivity of a molecular assay. Urine is an abundant biofluid used to diagnose urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and manage bladder, ovarian, prostate, and kidney diseases. Urine-based biopsies are non-invasive and enable convenient at-home self-sampling, consequently increasing patient compliance and satisfaction. Urine contains substances (e.g., urea) that can inhibit the PCR reactions. As such, expensive and time-consuming extraction steps are often needed.

Meridian's new Air-Dryable Direct DNA qPCR Urine and Air-Dryable Direct RNA/DNA qPCR Urine mixes remove the need for time-consuming RNA or DNA purification or complex component optimization. These mixes produce faster and more sensitive assays directly from urine. Setting up the assay can be as simple as adding primers and probes. Air-Dryable technology replaces the need for lyophilization with fast, simple, and inexpensive oven-drying procedures. Meridian's mixes are ideal for manufacturing room-temperature stable, highly sensitive, and cost-effective molecular diagnostic assays.

"Urine can be a rich source of material for testing a wide variety of conditions as it is easily accessible and convenient for patients to provide in comparison to other liquid biopsy material such as blood," said Florent Chang-Pi-Hin, Ph.D., Vice President of Research & Development at Meridian Life Science. "Interestingly, we have shown that the Air-Dryable Direct qPCR Urine mixes are sensitive enough to detect and distinguish co-infecting arboviruses such as Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya in urine long after the disappearance of viremia in the blood. The Air-Dryable Direct qPCR Urine mixes are ideal for developing point-of-care assays with faster workflows and market-leading performance. Meridian's Air-Dryable technology allows oven-drying on-site, saving manufacturing time and expense while allowing control of the entire workflow."

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Meridian Bioscience, Inc.