In a new video, IMD scientists introduce their new microbiome laboratory

During the past two decades, scientists in the genomics community have made remarkable progress mapping the interactions between humans and the complex communities of microbes that live both in and on us. The gut microbiome, associated with conditions ranging from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to diabetes, has been of particular interest to clinical researchers.

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The GA-map^® Dysbiosis Test

Luminex partner Genetic Analysis, a pioneering diagnostics company based in Norway, developed the GA-map^® Dysbiosis Test, a CE-marked assay designed to detect clinically relevant bacterial species to help healthcare professionals understand the gut microbiome profile of their patients. This test serves patients with IBD, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, and other gastrointestinal issues. Genetic Analysis selected xMAP^® Technology as the foundation for this highly multiplexed test, which can be run in any standard PCR laboratory.

Presently, the test has been implemented at the Institute for Medical Diagnostics Berlin (IMD), which is more than just a standard PCR lab. With more than 400 employees, IMD offers a broad range of laboratory services in molecular diagnostics, microbiology, and transfusion medicine. Recently, IMD added to those services by implementing the GA-map Dysbiosis Test as part of its new microbiome lab. The organization is now able to offer gut microbiome testing to customers in Germany and throughout Europe.

In a statement announcing the news earlier this year, IMD Medical Director Volker von Baehr said, “The GA-map Dysbiosis Test is measuring the abundance of clinically relevant key bacteria in relation to a clinically defined, healthy, normal population. This is a major difference from other sequencing methods where each user must establish their own reference ranges for healthy and diseased cohorts.”

IMD and its high-throughput diagnostic testing facility using Multiplexing Technology

In a new video, Von Baehr and his colleagues at IMD describe their new microbiome lab as well as the clinical importance of gut microbiome testing. The brief video introduces IMD and its high-throughput diagnostic testing facility before emphasizing how their novel microbiome testing capabilities provide a more holistic view of each patient’s health. IMD scientists note that the GA-map Dysbiosis Test is particularly important because a majority of gut bacteria cannot be grown in culture, rendering conventional approaches infeasible. The test contains 48 probes that make it possible to detect more than 300 different species simultaneously in a single run.

Multiplexing technology provides the multiplicity essential to characterizing microbiome communities efficiently and effectively. Implementation of this multiplexed test helps drive better patient outcomes by providing a greater degree of specificity and accuracy in diagnosing GI problems.

Powering Microbiome Innovation using Luminex xMAP^® Multiplexing Technology:

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