neoteryx and Brechbühler partner to automate the mitra microsampling workflow

Torrance, CA and Schlieren, Switzerland (October 14, 2015) – Neoteryx LLC, a microsampling solutions company, and Brechbühler AG, a developer and value added reseller of analytical equipment, today announced the signing of a joint development agreement for the automation of the patent pending Mitra^® Microsampling Device workflow from sample preparation through analysis.

This Mitra Microsampling Device, based on Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling (VAMS™) technology, is a sampling device that accurately collects 10 µL of blood (or other biological fluid), in seconds, while eliminating the volumetric hematocrit bias and spot quality issues typically associated with the dried blood spotting technique. The dried matrix nature of the device enable sample collections in the lab, clinic, or at home.

For clinical and pharmaceutical labs that must meet high sample throughput demands, automation of the Mitra microsampling workflow is necessary. Neoteryx has entered into a joint development agreement with Brechbühler to engineer a turnkey instrument that automates sample handling and extraction followed by direct injection into an LC/MS/MS. “We are very pleased to partner with Brechbühler to provide an automation solution which allows our customers to generate meaningful bioanalytical data with a very simple set-up and minimal resource requirement”, says Bert Rietveld, Neoteryx President. “We have the utmost confidence in Brechbühler as a partner due to their 25 year history with Phenomenex, the leading analytical chemistry solutions company we spun off from”.

Eight months into a rigorous development program have resulted in an initial instrument, the Mitra PAL RTC, which provides a fully automated sample preparation and analysis workflow for samples collected by the Mitra Microsampling Device. The robotics used to transport the well plate based extraction plates as well as the Mitra sampling devices are elegant and scalable which opens up a variety of future workflow applications such as the incorporation of a centrifugation step or barcode reader.

“As a value added reseller partner for PALS Systems (CTC Analytics, Switzerland) our aim is to develop new and unique platforms for automation in many different application fields based on the PAL Systems”, says Peter Pichler, CEO/President Brechbühler AG. “Therefore the need of Neoteryx to automate the workflow for the Mitra Microsampling Device fit our vision to develop out-of-the-box instruments to serve needs not met by typical front end autosamplers.”

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The Mitra device is for direct specimen collection of blood and other biological fluids. It is not specific to any clinical test, and is not for use in diagnostic procedures. Use of the Mitra Microsampler in Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) requires further processing including the establishment of performance characteristics and successful validation by the laboratory in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.