Design your own oligonucleotides

Bothell, WA, December 6, 2023 — ELITechGroup MDx LLC (EGMDx) announced availability of their new online oligo ordering form, showcasing the company’s proprietary reagents and production methods. EGMDx is a pioneer in the PCR field, having invented oligos conjugated to a minor groove binder (MGB probes) and developed optimized methods for their design and production.

EGMDx has made numerous contributions to DNA detection technology over the last several decades, focused on PCR and other nucleic acid amplification and detection technologies. MGB and its chimeric quenching analogue, “DSQ” or duplex stabilizing quencher, are among EGMDx’s duplex-stabilizing modifications available through the online ordering portal. Additional proprietary reagents include a spectrum of fluorophores and quenchers, Tm-modulating nucleosides, universal bases, and highly stable modified phosphate backbones which do not interact with DNA or RNA.

“Our new online oligo ordering form is warmly anticipated by the chemistry community,” said Scott Johnston, General Manager. Johnston added, “Our intent is to make the form intuitive and accessible to a wide range of customers, spanning those who want an off the shelf oligo with standard modifications to those who have very specific design requirements in mind.”

EGMDx offers multiple oligo design solutions via their vast toolbox of oligonucleotide labeling products. EGMDx now enables customers to create their own specialty compounds, which in turn can be used to develop diagnostic assays and commercial kits. These custom oligo designs are realized by the EGMDx manufacturing team, experts in highly modified specialty oligonucleotide synthesis within an ISO 13485:2016 environment.

The form is available online at egmdx.com/oligo-form.

About ELITechGroup MDx LLC
ELITechGroup MDx LLC serves the needs of clinical and research laboratories alike, offering an extensive range of molecular diagnostics products, including the fully automated sample-to-result ELITe BeGenius and ELITe InGenius instruments and a growing menu of infectious disease tests and reagents featuring innovative chemistries to optimize sensitivity and specificity. MGB Alert products utilize the original minor groove binder probe technology and offer the flexibility of PCR-based detection or melt curve analysis. DSQ Alert products feature the duplex stabilizing quencher, the latest evolution of hydrolysis probe-based real-time PCR. Other proprietary chemistries designed for optimum product performance include the original azo dye Eclipse® Dark Quencher, AquaPhluor® fluorescent dyes, and nucleobases Super A®, T, G, and I.

Contact
Scott Johnston, General Manager
Phone 925-495-9492
Email s.johnston@elitechgroup.com

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Redesigned for PCR efficiency and biplex compatibility

Bothell, WA, November 7, 2023 — ELITechGroup MDx LLC (EGMDx) announced availability of their redesigned enterovirus and parechovirus analyte specific reagents^* (ASR). The ASRs are designed to be used in the development of real-time PCR assays and were reengineered for both performance and workflow functionality. The two sets of reagents are now optimized for singleplex PCR efficiency and biplex compatibility, offering greater flexibility for clinical and research laboratories.

The company projects that many children’s hospitals will appreciate their enterovirus and parechovirus real-time PCR design improvements. Viral meningitis is a concern among children’s hospitals, with diagnostic testing for enterovirus in cerebrospinal fluid specimens by PCR recognized as the gold standard. For this pediatric patient population, clinicians also frequently consider and order parechovirus testing. The company notes that with regard to enterovirus respiratory testing, their probe retains its ability to detect Enterovirus D68.

“Our newly released enterovirus and parechovirus reagents have been eagerly anticipated by several of our children’s hospital lab customers,” said Scott Johnston, General Manager. Johnston added, “R&D recently completed a redesign of our enterovirus and parechovirus ASRs. The new ASRs are optimized for improved PCR efficiency at lower copy numbers and minimal cross reactivity when biplexed. Lab workflow was also top of mind during product development. We wanted to offer a workflow solution for enterovirus and parechovirus testing, with automated extraction, amplification, and results. This automation is possible using our ELITe BeGenius® system. Alternately for lab flexibility, our reagents are compatible with many open channel systems and can help optimize the use of existing molecular lab equipment.”

The EGMDx product portfolio includes the following analytes of interest when testing patients suspected of viral meningitis:

• DSQ Alert Enterovirus v2.0 primer and probe ASRs
• DSQ Alert Parechovirus v2.0 primer and probe ASRs
• HSV 1&2 ELITe MGB® IVD Assay
• MGB Alert® VZV primer and probe ASRs
• MGB Alert HHV-6 primer and probe ASRs

^*Analyte Specific Reagent. Analytical and performance characteristics are not established.

About ELITechGroup MDx LLC

ELITechGroup MDx LLC serves the needs of clinical and research laboratories alike, offering an extensive range of molecular diagnostics products, including the fully automated sample-to-result ELITe BeGenius and ELITe InGenius instruments and a growing menu of infectious disease tests and reagents featuring innovative chemistries to optimize sensitivity and specificity. MGB Alert products utilize the original minor groove binder probe technology and offer the flexibility of PCR-based detection or melt curve analysis. DSQ Alert products feature the duplex stabilizing quencher, the latest evolution of hydrolysis probe-based real-time PCR. Other proprietary chemistries designed for optimum product performance include the original azo dye Eclipse® Dark Quencher, AquaPhluor® fluorescent dyes, and nucleobases Super A®, T, G, and I.

Contact
Scott Johnston, General Manager
Phone 925-495-9492
Email s.johnston@elitechgroup.com

Candida auris detection reagents are commercially available for use in clinical and research laboratories

Bothell, WA, March 27, 2023 — ELITechGroup MDx LLC (EGMDx) announced availability of their Candida auris family of products, including reagents for C. auris detection, a multiplex of seven Candida pathogens, and C. auris with fluconazole resistance. This suite of real-time PCR products includes analyte specific reagents (ASR) and research use only (RUO) materials used by clinical and research laboratories.

The EGMDx product portfolio includes:

• DSQ Alert Candida auris primer and probe ASRs^*, for specific detection of auris
• MGB Alert^® Candida auris with fluconazole resistance RUO** Detection Reagent
• MGB Alert^® Candida species with C. auris RUO** Detection Reagent, for detection and discrimination of seven Candida species in a multiplex format

EGMDx initially released their Candida auris product family in February 2023. Product development efforts accelerated in response to a November 2022 publication from the World Health Organization, the WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List. The WHO publication urges detection and surveillance for Candida pathogens and antifungal resistance.

In March 2023, the Centers for Disease Control published a warning in the Annals of Internal Medicine that cited a dramatic increase in the spread of C. auris between 2019 and 2021. The number of C. auris infections increased by 59%, to 756, from 2019 to 2020 and then by an additional 95%, to 1,471, in 2021. Findings state that C. auris has now been found in more than half of U.S. states. The CDC publication highlights the need for improved detection and infection control practices to prevent the spread of C. auris.

Up to 95% of all invasive Candida infections in the United States are caused by five species of Candida: C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei. These five species and two additional targets, C. auris and C. dubliniensis, are detectable using the new Candida species multiplex from EGMDx.

 EGMDx is an innovative company that realizes the need for flexibility and versatility to optimize lab infrastructure and capacity. The release of their Candida family of products has been anticipated by many hospital laboratories, including lab partners involved in developing the products. “Our Candida auris family of reagents is compatible with many open channel systems and can help optimize molecular lab equipment,” said Scott Johnston, General Manager. Johnston added, “We’re proud to have an agile team that can quickly respond to clinical and public health needs.”

EGMDx reagents are compatible with the company’s proprietary ELITe BeGenius^® automated sample to result platform, in addition to third party open channel instrument systems. The company is a dedicated molecular diagnostics manufacturer offering reagents and instrument systems to detect infectious diseases.

Please visit www.elitechgroup.com/molecular-diagnostics-us to learn more.

^*Analyte Specific Reagent. Analytical and performance characteristics are not established.

^**For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About ELITechGroup MDx LLC

ELITechGroup MDx serves the needs of clinical and research laboratories alike, offering an extensive range of molecular diagnostics products, including the fully automated sample-to-result ELITe BeGenius^® and ELITe InGenius^® instruments and a growing menu of infectious disease tests and reagents featuring innovative chemistries to optimize sensitivity and specificity. MGB Alert products utilize the original minor groove binder probe technology and offer the flexibility of PCR-based detection or melt curve analysis. DSQ Alert products feature the duplex stabilizing quencher, the latest evolution of hydrolysis probe-based real-time PCR. Other proprietary chemistries designed for optimum product performance include the original azo dye Eclipse® Dark Quencher, AquaPhluor® fluorescent dyes, and nucleotide Superbases.

Contact

Scott Johnston, General Manager

Phone 925-495-9492

Email s.johnston@elitechgroup.com

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A suite of Candida reagents is now commercially available for use in clinical and research laboratories

Bothell, WA, February 8, 2023 — ELITechGroup MDx LLC (EGMDx) announced the release of their Candida family of products, including reagents for C. auris detection, with fluconazole resistance, and a multiplex of Candida pathogens. This new suite of real-time PCR products includes analyte specific reagents (ASR) and research use only (RUO) materials used by clinical and research laboratories.

The newest additions to the EGMDx product portfolio include:

• DSQ Alert Candida auris primer and probe ASRs*, for specific detection of C. auris
• MGB Alert® Candida auris with fluconazole resistance RUO** Detection Reagent
• MGB Alert® Candida species with C. auris RUO** Detection Reagent, for detection and discrimination of seven Candida species in a multiplex format

EGMDx accelerated the launch of their Candida product family in response to a recent publication from the World Health Organization, the 2022 WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List to Guide Research, Development And Public Health Action. The publication urges detection and surveillance for Candida pathogens and antifungal resistance.

C. auris, C. albicans, C. glabrata (Nakaseomyces glabrata), C. krusei (Pichia kudriavzevii), C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis are identified as priority pathogens by the WHO and are each detectable with these new reagents. Additionally, Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucorales, and Pneumocystis jirovecii are also listed as priority fungal pathogens and offered in the EGMDx portfolio. Notably, Cryptococcus neoformans is in development by the company’s research and development team. Once released, reagents for C. neoformans will round out the company’s offerings to detect the four WHO Critical Priority Group pathogens: C. neoformans, C. auris, A. fumigatus, and C. albicans.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a marked increase in infections of antifungal-resistant C. auris and an overall increase in antifungal-resistant Candida, considered urgent and serious public health concerns, respectively. Up to 95% of all invasive Candida infections in the United States are caused by five species of Candida: C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei. These five species and two additional targets, C. auris and C. dubliniensis are detectable using the new Candida species multiplex from EGMDx.

A dedicated molecular diagnostics manufacturer specializing in infectious diseases, EGMDx is an innovative company that realizes the need for flexibility and versatility to optimize lab infrastructure and capacity. The release of their Candida family of products has been anticipated by many hospital laboratories, including lab partners involved in developing the products. “Our new Candida reagents are compatible with most open channel systems and can help optimize underutilized molecular lab equipment, while answering the call for innovative antifungal diagnostics,” said Scott Johnston, General Manager. Johnston added, “We’re proud to have an agile team that can quickly respond to clinical and public health needs.”

The company’s MGB Alert hybridization probe products feature minor groove binder (MGB) probe technology which was originally invented by ELITechGroup and is now widely used throughout the clinical lab industry. Likewise, the company’s new duplex stabilizing quencher (DSQ) chemistry is now offered in their new DSQ Alert hydrolysis probe reagents. DSQ probes feature enhanced signal-to-noise fluorescence and DNA duplex stability, offered as the next evolutionary step in MGB probe chemistry. EGMDx reagents are compatible with the company’s proprietary ELITe BeGenius® automated sample to result platform, and on most open channel instrument systems.

Please visit us here to learn more.

*Analyte Specific Reagent. Analytical and performance characteristics are not established.
**For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

About ELITechGroup MDx LLC
ELITechGroup MDx LLC serves the needs of clinical and research laboratories alike, offering an extensive range of molecular diagnostics products, including the fully automated sample-to-result ELITe BeGenius and ELITe InGenius® instruments and a growing menu of infectious disease tests and reagents featuring innovative chemistries to optimize sensitivity and specificity. MGB Alert products utilize the original minor groove binder probe technology and offer the flexibility of PCR-based detection or melt curve analysis. DSQ Alert products feature the duplex stabilizing quencher, the latest evolution of hydrolysis probe-based real-time PCR. Other proprietary chemistries designed for optimum product performance include the original azo dye Eclipse® Dark Quencher, AquaPhluor® fluorescent dyes, and nucleotide Superbases.

Contact
Scott Johnston, General Manager
Phone +1 925-495-9492
Email s.johnston@elitechgroup.com

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