Technical guides and protocols for lateral flow assays.
The Cost Challenge Vet clinics demand lower prices than human hospitals. How do you reduce COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) without sacrificing quality? Economical Materials By sourcing Due Bio Universal Strips directly from the manufacturer, you can cut raw material costs by 30%. Our strips are validated for Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and Heartworm assays.
The N-Gene Target While Spike (S) protein mutates, the Nucleocapsid (N) protein remains relatively stable, making it the ideal target for universal COVID-19 antigen tests. Matched Pairs We have validated specific antibody pairs that work seamlessly with our Universal Strips to detect Omicron, Delta, and other variants without cross-reactivity.
Why Does My Gold Turn Purple/Blue? If your red colloidal gold turns purple or blue, it has aggregated (clumped). This kills assay performance. Causes include incorrect pH during conjugation or insufficient blocking. Stabilization Ensure your gold nanoparticles are capped with a high-quality stabilizer like BSA or PEG. Due Bio provides pre-conjugated Gold-Antibody solutions and high-stability … Read more
From Concept to Product Developing a lateral flow assay involves selecting the right backing card, membrane, conjugate pad, and sample pad. Compatibility is key. Material Selection Don’t guess. Use our Lateral Flow Development Starter Kit which includes a range of membrane speeds and pad materials. We offer OEM services to help you scale from R&D … Read more
The Sensitivity Barrier Standard lateral flow assays often hit a sensitivity wall at the nanogram level. For early disease detection (e.g., HIV p24, Troponin I), you need picogram (pg/mL) sensitivity. Enhancement Strategies Using Due Bio High-Sensitivity Nitrocellulose with a slower wicking rate allows more time for antigen-antibody interaction. Combined with signal enhancement techniques like silver … Read more
Introduction: The CRISPR Diagnostics Revolution Since the discovery of Cas12a (Cpf1) collateral cleavage activity, molecular diagnostics has shifted from lab-bound PCR to field-deployable DETECTR and HOLMES assays. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about setting up a high-sensitivity CRISPR-Cas12a lateral flow system. Chapter 1: Mechanism of Action Unlike Cas9, which targets DNA … Read more
Why Strips Curl Assembling lateral flow cards in uncontrolled humidity leads to membrane curling and adhesive failure. Nitrocellulose expands when wet. Ideal Conditions We manufacture Due Bio strips in a Class 100,000 cleanroom maintained at
The Spacing Rule To prevent optical cross-talk or “carry-over” between Test Line 1 and Test Line 2, we recommend a minimum spacing of 3mm. This allows the reading window to resolve distinct bands. Flow Dynamics In multiplex assays, the downstream line (T2) always sees less analyte than the upstream line (T1). Due Bio can provide … Read more
Breaking the Cell Wall Detecting viruses or bacteria in plant leaves (e.g., TMV, Xylella) requires breaking robust cellulose walls. Standard buffers often fail. High-Salt & Detergent We recommend a lysis buffer containing PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone) to bind plant polyphenols, along with a non-ionic detergent. Due Bio’s “Ag-Grade” sample pads are pre-buffered to neutralize acidic plant saps … Read more
The 40nm Standard For most lateral flow assays, 40nm gold is the industry standard. It offers the best balance between color intensity (optical density) and steric stability against aggregation. When to Use 20nm? Smaller 20nm particles have a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio, allowing for higher antibody loading density. This can be advantageous for competitive assays where … Read more