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Having the expertise and manufacturing
capability to customise fibrous products to meet very specific
requirements, Whatman has an established reputation for
supplying key components for a wide range of applications.
For today's diagnostic device manufacturers, time-to-market
is more critical than ever. They seek cost-efficient business
partnerships that yield consistent product performance and
quality - at increasingly aggressive rates of development. In
essence, they require experienced single-source suppliers with
extensive product lines that address the full spectrum of
diagnostic applications. That is why so many diagnostic
companies partner with Whatman.
We offer a comprehensive family of high-quality, solid-phase
media - from sample wicks, blood separators and conjugate
release pads to absorbent sinks, sample collection/transport
materials and dipsticks.
In addition, our in-depth line of nitrocellulose membranes
and our proprietary FUSION (single layer matrix) technology
provide proven performance for lateral flow assays.
What's more, our pioneering work in emerging applications -
including track-etched membrane and molecular diagnostic
technologies - helps companies remain on the forefront of
breakthrough diagnostic solutions.
By combining the highest quality standardized solutions with
unsurpassed technical expertise and support, we enable
diagnostic companies to optimize their product offerings quickly
and cost-effectively. We thereby accelerate a company's
time-to-market and maximize their competitive advantage.
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 | Diagnostic membranes |
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| > Immunopore diagnostic
membrane |
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Immunopore ™ diagnostic membranes
Whatman Immunopore was the first nitrocellulose membrane specifically
designed for lateral flow diagnostics in 1995. Since then, the
manufacturing process has been continuously refined to increase
consistency and expand the range of wicking rates. Whatman Immunopore
products include a proprietary polymer in the membrane matrix to ensure
rapid rewetting and low background signal-eliminating protein-binding
interference commonly experienced with surfactants.
Features and Benefits
| High sensitivity.
Capture line shows high intensity, making low positives easy to read
and improving test range.
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| High consistency.
Demonstrate outstanding within- and between-batch consistency for
lateral wicking rates (see graphs), making test development more
predictable.
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| Long shelf life.
No significant performance change after three years' storage under
ambient conditions, simplifying membrane handling and storage
operations.
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| Product versatility.
Strong results regardless of capture reagent or analyte type. Can be
utilized in virtually all tests. |
Product Range and Properties
Immunopore SP
Mylar cast membrane construction. Maximum sensitivity coupled with low
flow/wicking rate. Ideal for use with low-viscosity samples when maximum
capture line intensity is required.
Immunopore FP
Mylar cast membrane construction. Excellent general membrane offers high
capture line intensity coupled with faster flow/wicking rate.
Immunopore RP
Mylar cast membrane construction. Fastest flowing membrane, yielding
shorter test times while still retaining excellent capture line
intensity and reproducibility.
Standard Sizes
Available in 50m rolls of 25mm width, for other sizes please inquire.
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Given the increasing demand for whole blood
assays, Whatman offers a family of blood separators specifically
designed to meet the strict requirements of the rapid
diagnostics market.
Features and Benefits
| Faster development.
The four distinct separator grades facilitate faster and
simpler development of any whole blood assay.
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| Optimal performance.
All separators are optimized to consistently provide
required separation rates with high serum yields and no red
cell haemolysis.
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| Rapid separation.
Blood separation is completed in 30 to 120 seconds. |
Product Range and Properties
Since product selection for specific blood separation
applications can be complex, please consult the "Where to Start"
chart for typical applications.
LF1
Designed for use in lateral flow assays. Performs well with one
or two drops of whole blood.
MF1
Appropriate for lateral or vertical flow assays. Typically used
for whole blood volumes between 30µL and 100µL.
VF1
Suitable for vertical flow assays. Typically used in a
multi-layer format for separating larger volumes of blood.
VF2
Primarily a vertical separator that can be used in a single- or
multi- layer format to separate a wide range of blood volumes.
Standard Sizes
Reels are available in the following standard sizes:
12mm x 50m
17mm x 50m
| Blood Separation |
| Lateral Flow |
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Vertical Flow |
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Single Layer |
Multiple Layer |
| <30µL |
>30µL |
<100µL |
>100µL |
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| LF1 |
MF1 |
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VF2 |
VF1 |
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| 20 |
20 |
Minimum volume of whole blood
that can be used (µL) |
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40 |
40 |
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| 0.59 |
0.77 |
Minimum area of separator to
separate the minimum volume (cm2) |
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0.47 |
0.52 |
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| 21.2 |
17.6 |
Typical volume of serum
recovered from 40µL of whole blood |
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14.4 |
16.1 |
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| 86 |
73 |
Percentage of available serum
obtained (%) |
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60 |
67 |
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| 46 |
57 |
Basis weight (g/m2) |
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125 |
121 |
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| 247 |
367 |
Thickness (µm@53kPa) |
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785 |
632 |
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Conjugate release materials are critical to lateral flow assays. To
ensure strong assay performance, the conjugate must dry without damage
or aggregation and release rapidly when the sample is applied. For
consistent, reliable results involving conjugate release, diagnostic
manufacturers rely on Whatman products.
Features and Benefits
| Choice of product.
Rapid Release materials are optimized to provide improved
performance without blocking, while Standard Release materials allow
the development of proprietary blocking protocols.
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| Inherently hydrophilic conjugate pads.
Do not require treatment prior to conjugate application, decreasing
time required for diagnostic kit production.
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| Innovative design.
Enables the conjugate to dry as a solid phase without colloidal
system deterioration. Open structure allows rapid pad penetration by
both conjugate and sample.
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| Product versatility.
Can be used as combined sample wick/conjugate release pads when
additional wicks are not desired. |
Product Range and Properties
Rapid 24/Rapid 27
No additional blocking step is required, accelerating assay development
and simplifying manufacturing. Typically release more conjugate than
untreated pads, reducing reagent costs. Pads rewet rapidly and capture
line intensity is increased, significantly improving performance. Rapid
24 has higher absorption capacity and greater flexibility, while Rapid
27 has greater tensile strength.
Standard 14/Standard 17 Untreated grades ideal for conjugate
pad optimization for particularly sensitive assays. Manufactured to
enable optimization giving the same results every time. Pads rewet
quickly and naturally without requiring surfactant treatment,
facilitating simplified production. Standard 14 has higher absorption
capacity and greater flexibility, while Standard 17 has greater tensile
strength for easier manufacturing.
Standard Sizes
Reels are available in the following standard sizes:
12mm x 50m
17mm x 50m
22mm x 50m
27mm x 50m
| Typical Test Data - Conjugate
Release Materials |
| Grade |
Thickness (µm@53kPa) |
Absorption Capacity (mg/cm2) |
Max. Pore Size (µm) |
% Release of Gold Conjugate (after 90
sec) |
| Rapid 24 |
340 |
55 |
22 |
89 |
| Rapid 27 |
365 |
40 |
22 |
86 |
| Standard 14 |
355 |
55 |
23 |
75 |
| Standard 17 |
370 |
35 |
23 |
75 |
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Track etched membranes
Whatman is actively involved in state-of-the-art R&D initiatives
designed to keep our customers at the forefront of diagnostic
technology. We provide our vision for the field's most important
emerging applications and our assessment of the critical role Whatman
products will play as those applications help our partners achieve
competitive advantage.
Track etched membranes (TEMs) are extremely thin yet highly
controlled membranes. Traditionally, TEMs have been used for sample
filtration before critical applications such as HPLC.
Broad Applicability Across
Applications
The properties that make TEMs ideal for applications like filtration
are becoming increasingly important for diagnostic tests.
Cell capture.
Tightly controlled filtration properties allow you to capture cells of a
specific pore size on the membrane surface. Enables cells to be detected
in a clearer environment, yielding improved accuracy.
Particle capture and latex agglutination.
The distinct pore size of TEMs enables the capture of particles of known
sizes. Now you can construct assays in which capture reagents are bound
to a latex bead (i.e., bead capture assays) or the antigen causes
particle agglutination whereby the agglutinated clusters are captured on
the membrane surface.
Biosensors.
With biosensors, it is important to control liquid migration rates onto
the sensor and prevent potential contaminants from reaching the sensor
surface. The flow properties of a TEM can be chosen to yield the correct
flow of liquids or gases through the membrane in order to obtain optimal
sensitivity. It is also possible to modify surface properties so that
membranes will serve as barriers to contaminants.
Erythrocyte deformability testing.
Since healthy erythrocytes are highly flexible, they will readily change
shape to pass through small openings. In several haemopathies, the
ability of the cell to flex is reduced to the extent that it can no
longer pass through a small aperture. When TEMs are used as a barrier to
abnormal erythrocytes, it is possible to test for disease states.
In short, the degree of control that is possible in TEM manufacturing
not only gives rise to a number of applications in which standard
materials would fail, but also makes process validation and regulatory
control easier and more intuitive.
Features and Benefits
| Defined pore size.
The claimed nominal pore size is the largest pore size present in
the membrane. The intra-lot variation in pore size is typically
between two and three percent.
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| Biologically inert.
Since TEMs are manufactured from PC, the possibilities of assay
interference are remote.
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| Control of flow rate.
TEMs are available with hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces in a
range of pore sizes and pore densities. The flow rate of liquid
through the membrane can therefore be tightly controlled. |
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Diagnostic components
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