Advances in diagnostics don’t happen in isolation. They come from a steady process that starts with scientific questions and grows through innovation and clinical use, always focused on one goal: improving patients' lives. At the Binding Site, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, we’ve built our legacy on this approach.
Scientific leadership: Uncovering needs before they are widely understood
The biggest breakthroughs in science often come from asking tough questions and challenging what we think we know. From our start at the University of Birmingham, we’ve stayed committed to research and collaboration with the clinical community.
From the beginning we have sought to improve the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests for patients with immune system disorders, including monoclonal gammopathies. Our earliest assays, the IgG subclasses improved the ability to assess IgG immunodeficiencies and could be used to improve sensitivity when measuring monoclonal immunoglobulins compared to total IgG measurements. As serum free light chain (sFLC) pioneers, we were convinced that measurement in serum would be more convenient for patients, easier for the laboratories to handle and clinically more accurate than urine assessment. Through commitment to research we have expanded the utility far and beyond even these lofty goals.
The inclusion of Freelite® assays in global guidelines reflects the power of scientific collaboration and research to raise the standard of care. Most importantly, it gives patients the benefit of more accurate answers. We carry that same mindset into every research partnership and clinical collaboration, always working to understand needs before they’re widely recognized, and always keeping patients at the heart of what we do, simply it’s in our DNA.
Innovation: Turning insight into practical solutions
Always seeking to help patients, laboratorians, and clinicians, we identified a need in the laboratory for a best-in-class analyzer. One that met the needs of the modern laboratory, could provide rapid result turn around for the patients, and support clinical decision making across a broad number of disorders. And naturally, it would be the best instrument for our growing number of innovative assays. The Optilite® Analyser reflects what we’ve learned from working alongside lab professionals. By streamlining workflow and improving efficiency, we help clinicians get faster answers that they can trust.
The EXENT® System* (currently available in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand) builds on this principle. Founded in cutting edge research from Murray, Mills, Barnidge, and Desari, we created a fully automated system that is simple enough to be deployed in commercial laboratories, and to be operated by individuals with minimal mass spectrometry knowledge. It’s designed to identify and measure monoclonal proteins with precision, utilizing MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry which has been endorsed by the IMWG Mass Spectrometry committee. For patients, this can bring more clarity on their disease with less disruption to their daily life.
Diagnostic excellence: Continuing the cycle of progress
Now, as part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, we’re able to expand our reach while staying rooted in the scientific values that define us. Science drives our innovation, and innovation must lead to real, measurable benefits in patient care.
We don’t only develop diagnostic tests and analyzers. We support the clinicians and laboratorians who rely on them, helping them make the most informed decisions possible. By staying grounded in science and focused on patient needs, we’re continuing to raise the bar in protein diagnostics.
*The EXENT System is not commercially available in the USA, future commercial availability cannot be agreed.
Optilite, Freelite, and EXENT are registered trademarks of the Binding Site Group Limited (Birmingham, UK) in certain countries.
The EXENT System combines EXENT Analyser with the Immunoglobulin Isotypes (GAM) for EXENT Analyser.