Cytomark - Manufacturer of TransFix: Sample Preservation for Flow Cytometry
Cytomark
Caltag Medsystems are the UK distributor of Cytomark. Cytomark are dedicated to the development of the cell fixative reagent TransFix® for use in Flow Cytometry. TransFix® stabilises white blood cells and preserves cell-surface antigens, reducing pressures associated with the analysis of fresh samples. This allows users to fix cells at the point of sample collection, to then stain and analyse at a more convenient time.
TransFix products are widely used in flow cytometry labs around the world, including hospitals, reference laboratories, academic research institutions, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and government agencies. It comes in multiple product formats to facilitate sample collection and sample storage.
TransFix - CE/IVD
Transfix® is intended for stabilising lymphocytes for immunophenotyping by flow cytometry. TransFix reagent can be purchased in 20ml or 1ml containers, to be added to samples.
TransFix® can be used for a variety of specimen types including whole blood and cerebrospinal fluid. An There is also an abundance of literature supporting the stabilisation of lymph nodes, bone marrow, animal blood, circulating tumour cells. These can be found in the Cytomark bibliography
TransFix Sample Storage and Sample Collection Tubes
TransFix® has been validated to preserve a number of specific sample types for flow cytometry. Cytomark have optimised specially designed sample collection and sample storage tubes:
Blood Collection and Storage: TransFix/EDTA Vacuum Blood Collection Tubes (TVTs) - CE/IVD
TVTs are vacuum tubes used for blood collection and WBC preservation for immunophenotyping by flow cytometry. TVTs are prefilled with sufficient TransFix containing K3EDTA for the immediate anticoagulation and stabilisation of 3ml or 9ml of blood for up to 14 days.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Stabilisation: TransFix/EDTA CSF Sample Storage Tubes - RUO
Analysis of white blood cells in CSF is important to determine CNS involvement in leukaemia.
Flow cytometric analysis can provide absolute cell counts and detect rare events with high sensitivity and specificity. Cells within CSF samples are typically low in number, sparse in concentration, degrade rapidly ex vivo and only obtained via lumbar puncture.
TransFix/EDTA CSF Sample Storage Tubes contain TransFix that has been optimised for stabilizing CSF leucocyte markers for immunophenotyping up to 72 hours after CSF collection.
Circulating Tumour Cell TransFix/EDTA Vacuum Blood Collection Tubes (CTC-TVTs) - RUO
Circulating Tumour Cell TransFix/EDTA Vacuum Blood Collection Tubes (CTC-TVTs) are 9ml vacuum tubes optimised to preserve CTC and other Circulating rare cells in whole blood for subsequent CTC isolation or characterisation. CTC-TVTs allow CTC stabilisation for up to 5 days immediately preventing the degradation of CTCs and CTC antigens, allowing time to isolate and analyse these rare cells.
TransFix Sample Storage Tubes (SSTs) - CE/IVD
TransFix Sample Storage Tubes (SST) are ideal for use where blood has already been collected in EDTA blood collection tubes.
TransFix Sample Storage Tubes (SST) consist of 1.2ml tubes containing 0.2ml of TransFix. These tubes do not contain an anti-coagulant.
Benefits of TransFix®
- Stabilises cell surface antigens and prevents cellular degradation for up to 14 days
- Easy to use - just add TransFix® or add your sample to a TransFix tube and mix by inversion
- Ensures integrity during sample integrity during transportation between clinical sites
- Eliminates the need for weekend and evening work
- Reduces the impact of unexpected machine breakdown or staff shortages
- Allows for repeat testing of samples without the need for patient recall and repeat sampling
- Greater efficiency in testing - allows for batching of samples prior to testing
- Reduction in costs associated with the above advantages