Scottish biotech releases new rapid bovine mastitis diagnostic assay
Biotangents celebrate the launch of company's latest next-generation molecular diagnostic assay with an event at the Moredun Research Institute, located beside the biotech's facility on Pentlands Science Park, in Midlothian Science Zone. Keynote speaker was leading mastitis specialist and vet, Andrew Biggs BVSc FRCVS.
AmpliSpec™ LAB Mastitis rapidly identifies mastitis pathogens in dairy cows. Its unique design, utilising Biotangents’ bead platform, allows the test to be easy to use, highly accurate and fast.
Mastitis, the most significant disease affecting dairy herds around the world, continues to adversely impact herd health, antimicrobial resistance, sustainability, and productivity – estimated to cost the industry £25bn per annum. Rapid diagnosis of the causal pathogens informs farmers and veterinarians to make better and more appropriate treatment and management decisions, including stopping unnecessary antibiotic use.
Pictured (l-r): Ross McDermid (Chief Commercial Officer), Fiona Marshall (CEO) and Andrew Biggs (keynote speaker)
Biotangents believe their new test has notable cost, speed and accuracy benefits to traditional culture and PCR testing used by animal health laboratories and veterinary clinics around the world. AmpliSpec™ LAB Mastitis’ unique design utilises isothermal amplification technology, meaning labs can use less expensive equipment, and Biotangents’ lyophilised bead platform, ensuring its stable and easy to use. Combined with Biotangents’ advanced bioinformatic capability, it’s created a fast, highly accurate test that is a cost-effective diagnostic tool.
“On launching the test, CEO Fiona Marshall highlighted its technical performance, saying:
“With 93% sensitivity and 95% specificity, this is a highly sophisticated assay that will help farmers, vet, and laboratories to better treat mastitis. To produce a practical, fast, and affordable diagnostic test is a great achievement, and down to our dedicated team, our development partners, and the support of our investors. Now we look forward to seeing AmpliSpec LAB Mastitis being used around the world.”
Chairman, Ian Hamilton, a familiar face in the agri sector, further highlighted the excitement around the release and its potential impact, stating:
“On a personal level, the successful development and launch of AmpliSpec™ LAB Mastitis so soon after the release our first assay, AmpliSpec LAB BVDV earlier this year, is a great demonstration in the teams’ proficiency. But the industry implications are hugely significant; as Andy said in his talk today, cow longevity is key to reducing the environmental impact of dairy farms, and at Biotangents we believe cost-effective, fast and accurate diagnostics are critical to achieving that goal, not to mention the wider societal benefits of reducing unnecessary antibiotic usage.””
AmpliSpec™ LAB Mastitis is the latest in new range of next generation diagnostics being released by Biotangents for the animal health sector.
Biotangents is based on Pentlands Science Park, in Midlothian Science Zone. While their technology may well have future applications in other sector such as human healthcare and environmental monitoring, they are dedicated to developing next generation molecular diagnostics for the animal health sector, specifically livestock, to enable animal welfare, productivity, sustainability, food security.
For further information please contact:
Ross McDermid,
Chief Commercial Officer,
Biotangents Ltd
t: +44 (0)7944 927865
e: ross@biotangents.co.uk