Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR), located within the University of Edinburgh houses an Assay core service that specialises in optimising and validating immunoassays, running automated analysers for steroid and protein hormones, and biochemistry analytes. Operated by Dr Kirsten Wilson expert advice on sample collection, matrices and volumes required for analysis, quality control and interpretation of results is also available.
Equipment
- Cobas Mira+ (biochemistry)
- Roche e411 (hormones and proteins)
Sample types
Samples are primarily human or mouse serum or plasma, but analysis of saliva and urine from a range of mammalian species (giant panda, polar bear, elasmobranchs, tiger, koala) and TC media can also be analysed.
Steroid Hormones
Progestogens, cortisol, testosterone, DHEA/DHEA-S, estrogens (E1G) by Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA). Any of the listed steroid hormone reagents that can be purchased for a Roche e411 analyser (assay menu listed: https://diagnostics.roche.com/gb/en/products/instruments/cobas-e-411-ins-502.html#assay). Additionally, commercially purchased kits can be tested and run by the service at a cost.
Protein Hormones
LH and FSH. Any of the listed steroid hormone reagents that can be purchased for a Roche e411 analyser (assay menu listed: https://diagnostics.roche.com/gb/en/products/instruments/cobas-e-411-ins-502.html#assay). Additionally, commercially purchased kits can be tested and run by the service at a cost.
Biochemistry Analytes
Liver and kidney function tests are available; albumin, ALP, AST, ALT, bilirubin, urea, creatinine and microalbumin. Other tests include amylase, cholesterol, LDH, triglycerides and glucose, among others. New tests can be added to this repertoire provided reagents and controls are available for automation on a Cobas Mira+.
Pricing
Biochemistry
Sample handling starts at £6, additional costs depend on number and type of tests. Thus, starting at £1.80 per test per sample [4+ tests requested = £1.80 per test; 3 tests requested = £2.30 per test; 1-2 tests requested = £3 per test]), with surcharges depending on the number of samples submitted per test e.g. £1 < 20; £2 < 10.
EIA-based assays
For ‘in-house’ developed assays, prices start at £6 per sample – samples are run in duplicate, extra if repeats are required to hit the standard curve, but discounts are available for larger batches of samples. For commercial kits, pricing covers kit costs (variable) and assay running time, starting at £75.
Roche e411-based assays
Pricing is dependent on individual projects and their requirements. For small projects on reproductive hormones e.g. sample handling is £10 and additional costs start at £5 per hormone. For large scale projects, pricing is dependent on kit costs and sample handling time.