Automated scanning of HEp2
A prominent diagnostics company approached Fraen with the proposal for a joint instrumental development effort. In that Fraen had already been working on design and innovation in fluorescence microscopy by means of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), the request was welcomed and a partnership began to optimize a reflected light LED fluorescence illuminator for an automated scanning system.
Introduction
In modern fluorescence microscopy, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) offer a compelling advantage to traditional light sources for several reasons. Immunofluorescence assays for autoantibody detection require the optimization of light source and light path in order to help accurate clinical diagnosis and consequently proper treatment. Therefore FLUOLED® 1CFW (1 Colour Filter Wheel) reflected light illuminator represents a fast and reliable solution for fluorescence microscopy using light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a source for excitation. Different from other LED devices for fluorescence microscopy, FLUOLED® 1CFW includes a complete reflected light illuminator.
FLUOLED® 1CFW: 1 Colour Filter Wheel reflected light illuminator for an automated scanning system of Hep-2 Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) samples.
This system allows the technologist to quickly scan images to identify ANA negative patient samples, which are the majority of samples that most laboratories have to interpret. The clarity and quality of the positive images is also enhanced by the FLUOLED fluorescence illuminator, leading to accurate identification of the fluorescent staining, which allows for the correct treatment of the patient. The result was a highly efficient optical solution design according the exact profile specification and mechanical interfaces for ease of assembly into a variety of microscope brands.
Results
The use of a high power solid-state (LED) source enabled increased performance, significantly increased light source lifetime, reduction of initial costs and operating costs, and reduction of maintenance and heat production. Main FLUOLED® 1CFW product benefits are:
- Light source lifetime: typically 30.000 hours, thus allowing many years of operation and cost savings
- No need of any special alignment procedure.
- No warm-up time required for the light source.
- Additional LED sources and filter sets can be added to the system at any time.