Merck announces new assays

Merck Biosciences has announced the launch of Novagen’s WideScreen Multiplex Assays using the xMAP Technology for the detection of biomarkers and signalling proteins.

The firm says by using a familiar sandwich immunoassay format, dye-labelled microspheres are used to create assays for the detection of multiple analytes, resulting in savings of sample, time and costs.

A company statement said Novagen is committed to developing "state-of-the-art" assays for serum, plasma and tissue culture samples.

"WideScreen biomarker assays are the result of an ongoing collaboration between Novagen and rules-based medicine, the industry leading biomarker testing laboratory for large scale and clinical trial projects," it added.

Earlier in the year, Merck announced the Novagen Widescreen group of international interdisciplinary assay development scientists had been set up.

Merck Chemicals and EMD Biosciences are research agents for the life science chemicals division of Merck KGaA, which was founded in 1688 in Darmstadt and now employs more than 29,000 in 53 countries.