Serum is the gold standard for biochemical analysis of blood samples and is produced when blood clots. The rapid production of high quality serum is important to improve laboratory efficiency and is vital to optimize patient outcomes. Limitations of existing blood collection tubes have been known for many years, with current tubes unable to clot the blood of some patients – such as anticoagulated cardiac patients or those taking common medicines such as warfarin or other oral anticoagulants. The predominant tube is a simple silica-based serum tube, which takes up to 30min to clot and when not clotted properly can result in particulates in the serum that cause instrument reader disruption. Serum tubes with thrombin are available to clot samples faster, however these tubes are not effective against higher concentrations of anticoagulants and their high price has limited widespread adoption.
Q-Sera has developed a gold standard serum tube, with a fast turn-around time that can be manufactured for universal implementation. For many years, the industry has recognized the need for a tube that rapidly produces high quality serum from all blood. Q-Sera’s technology has been developed to meet these needs and uses synthetically produced pro-coagulant proteins called prothrombin activators. The technology was inspired by the venom of some snakes (including the Australian Taipan) that have a potent ability to coagulate the blood.
RAPClotTM is Q-Sera’s lead serum tube. The active prothrombin activator is recombinantly manufactured using standard bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. The process is high yielding, low cost and highly scalable. Q-Sera’s technology is protected by two patent families covering not only use of these unique actives to produce serum for analysis, but also formulations to stabilise the actives in a manufacturing and storage environment. Together, these patents provide commercial protection in key markets through 2030.
Q-Sera is engaged with a number of international companies and is looking to commercialise the RAPClotTM technology.
