Single molecule array (SiMoA) technology, developed by Quanterix Corporation, has proven to be 1,700 times more sensitive than standard hospital tests when measuring a biomarker for prostate cancer recurrence, a new study has found.
A simple blood test using SiMoA captures and measures individual prostate specific antigen (PSA) molecules in prostate cancer patients, according to a new study published in Nature Biotechnology.
In the study, PSA was measured in serum from men who had undergone radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer and where PSA was initially reported as undetectable following surgery for many of these patients.
The test was considered so sensitive that it was able to measure residual PSA levels in all samples tested.
The Quanterix test will be studied in the New York University Langone Medical Center to determine its potential to identify patients who require more or less vigilant follow-up after surgery and to identify those who need secondary treatment earlier.
The SiMoA test can be applied in many applications, including neurological, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, researchers said.
Quanterix plans to the launch first diagnostic tests through the Quanterix Clinical Laboratory by 2011. It also intends to further develop the technology towards implementation across the full spectrum of immunodiagnostics.
