Bioanalytical Lab Capabilities
Cell-based assays
The PPD™ Laboratory services bioanalytical lab has been providing cell-based assays services since 2007. We have a dedicated team of research scientists experienced in cell culture technologies, cell-based assay development and validation, cell-line engineering, microbiology, virology and molecular biology.
The bioanalytical lab’s cell-based assay experience involves the transfer of more than 80 cell-based assays across a wide range of applications including:
- Drug-specific NAb assays (including biosimilar)
- Biomarkers
- Toxin neutralization assay (TNA)
- Virus-specific NAb assays
Our service offering includes:
- Comprehensive assay transfer capabilities
- CLIA validation of NAb assays
- Sample analysis for studies in excess of 1,500 samples
- Various end points for early events, for example receptor phosphorylation (ECL), cellular proliferation (cATP, cAMP) and cell signaling pathways (STAT3,SMAD)
- Numerous end points for late events consisting of cytokine production/detection and reporter gene products (fluorescence)
Key instrumentation:
- MSD® Sector® S 600 reader
- BioTek Cytation™ reader
- Beckman Coulter Vi-CELL™ analyzer
- Biosafety cabinets
- CO2 incubators
In addition to supporting bioanalytical studies for various types of pharmaceuticals, cell-based assays are an integral part of vaccine development.
Chromatography / mass spectrometry
PPD Laboratory services’ bioanalytical lab offers substantial capacity and expertise in the increasingly sophisticated field of chromatography. We have applied LC-MS/MS to compounds that range from small molecules to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with measurement in biological fluids and tissues. We utilize the most advanced automated sample cleanup techniques for rapid sample analysis and employ stable isotope internal standards for highly precise quantitation.
Our extensive scientific and technical expertise includes:
- Highly diverse range of analytes from small molecules to complex biologics
- Difficult endogenous, reactive or unstable analytes
- Ultrahigh sensitivity assays with sub-pg/ml lower limits of quantification (LLOQ)
- High-resolution mass spectrometry
Key instrumentation:
- Hamilton® MICROLAB® STAR and STARlet
- Sciex Triple Quad™ 6500 and 7500
- Shimadzu Nexera UHPLC system with 2-D capabilities
- Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ Plus (HRMS)
- Thermo Scientific™ Aria® multiplexing system
- Waters Xevo® TQ-S (triple quad)
- Waters Acquity UHPLC system with 2-D capabilities
Flow cytometry
PPD Laboratory services’ flow cytometry assays integrate into our bioanalytical and central labs. This integration provides flexibility to leverage our operational and organizational structures for a tiered regulatory approach to meet customers’ needs.
From fit-for-purpose assays to projects that require GCLP-, GLP- or CLIA-compliant assays, we have the technology platforms, the clinical expertise and the collaborative and flexible mindset needed to develop customized solutions for our customers.
We have a dedicated team of scientists at the bioanalytical lab and many cross-trained scientists across the various central lab locations. Research and development for flow cytometry assays is performed in our Richmond, Virginia, location, where our scientists have more than 25 years of combined experience.
Our service offering includes:
- Assay development and validation under CAP/CLIA, GLP and/or GCLP regulations
- Enumeration of cells (4-, 6- and 8-color)
- Routine cell surface antigen expression
- Intracellular cytokine assays
- Platelet, neutrophil and basophil activation assays
- Receptor occupancy
- Complex phospho-flow assays
- Peripheral mononuclear cell (PBMC) enumeration and intracellular cytokine assays
- Training to clinical sites for complex procedures, such as phosph-flow and activation assay
Key instrumentation:
- BD FACSCanto™ II flow cytometers
- BD FASCLyric™
- CTL Immunospot Reader
In addition to supporting bioanalytical studies for various types of pharmaceuticals, flow assays are an integral part of biomarker development.
Immunochemistry
PPD Laboratory services’ bioanalytical lab offers comprehensive immunochemistry services to support pharmacokinetic (PK) and anti-drug antibody (ADA) safety assessments. We have broad biopharmaceutical experience with a variety of molecules, including monoclonal and multivalent antibodies, antibody fragments, oligonucleotides, PEGylated proteins and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs).
Our service offering includes:
- > 400 immunogenicity/ADA assays
- > 200 oligonucleotide methods
- > 40 plate-based neutralizing antibody assays
- Quantitation and validation of endogenous analytes
- Robotic liquid handling to support high volume testing needs and improve precision/accuracy
- Automated immunogenicity screening
Key instrumentation/platforms:
- TECAN EVO® automated liquid-handler
- Hamilton MICROLAB® STAR
- ELISA
- Meso Scale Discovery (MSD)® ECL technology
- Gyros Gryolab™ Xp workstation
- Quanterix® Simoa HD-1 analyzer
- Fluorescence
Molecular genomics
PPD Laboratory services has a custom-built, spacious, leading-edge molecular genomics suite staffed with a dedicated team of molecular biologists. The suite of labs is designed with the appropriate engineering and procedural controls to minimize the risk of reagent and sample contamination.
Our capabilities include assay development, qualification, validation and sample analysis services in the following areas:
- Viral and bacterial detection, quantification and typing by PCR
- SNP detection
- Copy number variation
- Gene expression and sequencing
- Vector (transgene) copy number and persistence
- Epigenetics
Key instrumentation:
- Agilent Mx3005 Qpcr
- Agilent TapeStation 2200 bioanalyzer
- Applied Biosystems (AB)® 3730xl genetic analyzer
- AB® 7500 and QuantStudio6
- BioRad Gel Doc XR+ imaging system
- BioRad QX200 ddPCR®
- Illumina® MiSeq next generation sequencer
- Qiagen BioRobot Universal System
- QiagenQ QIAsmphony® SP nucleic acid extraction
- TECAN EVO® automated liquid handler
PPD Laboratory Services Bioanalytical Lab Thought Leadership Series
Watch as experts from our bioanalytical, biomarker and vaccine sciences labs in Richmond, Virginia, take you through trending topics of the bioanalytical landscape ranging from CAR-T cell enumeration to vaccine immunogenicity testing.
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