Immunomagnetic separation for micro-organisms

The innovative Lab M Captivate immunomagnetic separation (IMS) products and methodology are being used to enhance and accelerate a range of microbiological processes

The Lab M Captivate antibody-coated microscopic paramagnetic beads are used for the rapid immunomagnetic separation of the micro-organism under test, eliminating the need for traditional enrichment processes.

In food applications, for example, Captivate can reduce the time required for total viable counts, allowing rapid achievement of a presumptive negative for pathogens.

This can be particularly important in the isolation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from meat and milk samples.

As well as Escherichia coli O157:H7, the range includes Captivate for other E coli serotypes and Salmonella isolation.

Lab M also offers a custom coating service.

Captivate beads consist of a magnetite core enveloped by a ceramic zirconium oxide coating and have an average size of 2.5microns.

Each Captivate product is designed for the specific target bacteria and pre-coated with the relevant antibody.

When mixed with a sample suspension and incubated, the antibody-coated beads bind to cell surface antigens forming an antibody-antigen complex with the target molecules.

The target bacteria are said to be "captured".

A magnetic concentrator is used to separate the complexes from any background organisms or interfering materials.

Subsequent washing removes non-specifically bound material and the beads can be plated to the appropriate selective media or used in other analyses.

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