With passion for rheumatology!
Diagnostics of the different autoimmune-related rheumatic diseases pose a particular challenge to rheumatologists: They are confronted with at least 400 inflammatory joint, connective tissue or vascular diseases, which include subgroups sometimes requiring different treatments, and cause a great variety of symptoms. In addition to symptoms, specific antibodies are characterising features. But while there is great number of different antibodies, the prevalence is very low for some of them, making detection very challenging. However, for differential diagnostics in particular, autoantibody detection can give crucial hints and thus enable a fast therapy start for patients.
Autoantibodies from A to Z
Since its foundation 35 years ago, EUROIMMUN has dedicated itself to antibody detection in autoimmune diagnostics. With the goal to cover as many serological classification criteria of rheumatic diseases as possible, the test range for antibody detection was expanded constantly by means of continuous new developments and active basic research. As a consequence, we now offer specific detection systems for a whole alphabet of autoantibodies ranging from A like antinuclear antibodies (ANA) to Z like anti-Zo (a myositis-specific antibody, MSA). Almost all known serological markers for autoimmune rheumatological diseases are covered, including several exclusive parameters such as anti-NVL (systemic sclerosis) or anti-cN-1A antibodies (inclusion body myositis). For established markers like rheumatoid factors or autoantibodies against citrullinated peptides (ACPA), which play an important role in the context of early recognition and diagnosis confirmation according to ACR1 and EULAR2, several different detection methods for quantitative determination are available.
This portfolio is ideally complemented by our tests for serological diagnostics of infectious arthritis and assays for the evaluation of the risk and the therapy course in osteoporosis. Furthermore, EUROIMMUN offers many more tests for the diagnostics of autoimmune diseases, infections and allergies as well as for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM).
A large variety of detection methods
EUROIMMUN masters a broad technology spectrum and constantly develops and improves tests based on different methods. The development of the BIOCHIP technology in the 1980s was a pioneering achievement for indirect immunofluorescence diagnostics. By combining different substrates on one reaction field, comprehensive antibody profiles can be created in one incubation. This also benefits the detection of ANA using IFA on human epithelial cells (HEp-2 cells) – the gold standard method for ANA diagnostics. According to the ICAP3, 15 nuclear, 9 cytoplasmic and 5 mitotic fluorescence patterns can be differentiated on HEp-2 cells. When combining them with liver tissue sections into BIOCHIP mosaics, IFA patterns on HEp-2 cells become easier to evaluate. In addition to the IFA screening test, a wide range of different test systems are available to confirm antibody specificities, including quantitative or semiquantitative ELISAs or ChLIAs as well as different EUROLINE profiles as multiplex tests for the detection of the most prevalent antibodies. For large sample throughputs, pool ELISAs and ChLIAs for the detection of selected antibodies are a great starting point. Indication-specific line blot profiles allow monospecific detection of up to 20 autoantibodies in just one incubation – such as the EUROLINE Systemic Sclerosis Profile to support the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis and overlap syndromes as well as the EUROLINE Myositis Profiles for differentiated serological myositis diagnostics. The range of detection methods is further extended by new developments like the EUROMicroblot, an efficient blot technology in microplate format for high throughputs. Different molecular diagnostic detection method such as the EUROArray HLA-B27 Direct to support the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis complete the diagnostic repertoire.
This variety of detection methods allows to detect numerous antibodies with different tests and makes laboratory diagnostics reliable and flexible. As an example, the monospecific detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies for the serology of systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE) can be performed with either ELISA, ChLIA or Crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence test (CLIFT).
A full package that suits your laboratory
EUROIMMUN’s portfolio further includes innovative automation and software solutions to perform and evaluate tests effectively and reliably. We offer flexible options for automated processing of all of our test systems for any sample throughput or laboratory size. The laboratory software EUROLabOffice 4.0 integrates all laboratory diagnostics processes and different indications, automated systems and workspaces into one seamless and efficient workflow and establishes data communication with the laboratory information system (LIS).
1 American College of Rheumatology
2 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology
3 International Consensus on ANA Patterns
Find out more about our portfolio for rheumatology diagnostics and get an overview of our method range and the associated automated systems. Together we will find the right solutions for your laboratory!
