The Hitachi Software MiraiBio Group Blog

The Hitachi Software MiraiBio Online Store has opened it’s doors for business on July 1st, 2008.  Currently, the product catalog includes:

• Luminex MicroPlex xTAG Microspheres (FlexMAP)
• Luminex MicroPlex Microspheres (Carboxylated)
• Luminex LumAvidin Microspheres
• Luminex SeroMAP Microspheres
• Luminex Calibration and Control Microspheres

Just like any other e-commerce site, all you have to do is add the beads you want to your shopping cart and checkout.  It just does not get any easier.

Many of the FlexMAP (now called xTAG) microsphere users relied on the TagIT software to help choose which microsphere sets to use in genetic detection assays run on the xMAP platform. When the TagIT software was removed these users no longer had a reliable way to design their assays. Well the good news is that TagIT is back!

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Hitachi Software recently released a free software tool to automate the design of SNP genotyping assays using Allele Specific Primer Extension (ASPE) on the xMAP platform. The ASPE approach utilizes Luminex Corporation’s xTAG (formerly FlexMAP) microspheres which are pre-coupled to oligonucleotide sequences (anti-tags) that are optimized to be an isothermal set and to have minimum cross-reactivity. The detection probes have the tag sequence synthesized on the 5′ end. The use of the pre-coupled xTAG microspheres simplifies the assay greatly.

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Just as a rose by any other name smells as sweet, MicroPlex Microspheres, formerly known as xMap compatible Multi-Analyte COOH Microspheres or Carboxylated Beads, have a new name, but still deliver excellent results for researchers seeking cost-effective, quick, and focused bioassays.

Polystyrene MicroPlex Microspheres are sold by several vendors, and are essentially identical in size, concentration, and shelf life. Also known as beads, they are internally labeled with dyes and contain exposed carboxyl groups for the covalent attachment of ligands and biomolecules. As opposed to solid planar arrays, beads are used in wet chemistry, taking advantage of faster liquid reaction kinetics, requiring smaller sample sizes, and delivering faster, more reproducible results than solid, planar alternatives.

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