The ImmunoComb® is a versatile diagnostic tool that is suitable for both clinical and research applications. The test unique "dot-ELISA" technology is easier to perform than most other conventional laboratory assays and therefore has been preferred by investigators involved in clinical research.
Biogal has always welcomed opportunities to participate in research in the field of veterinary diagnostics, particularly projects, which employ the ImmunoComb®. Our research interests are not limited to those that feature the ImmunoComb®. A glimpse at some of Biogal’s previous and current collaborative research follows.
Ten years ago in Israel, the only available serologic test for Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs was the Indirect Immunoflourescent Assay performed by Dr. Trevor Waner in his laboratory at the IIBR (The Israel Institute for Biologic Research) in Nes Tziona. Small animal practitioners from near and far were mailing serum samples to Dr. Waner for testing. He thought that these veterinarians might be interested in performing their own serology for this widespread infection. Dr. Waner and Biogal worked together and developed the ImmunoComb® Canine Ehrlichia Antibody Test Kit, which is used today in companion animal clinics and veterinary laboratories both in Israel and abroad.
Another veterinarian in Israel, Dr. Tzvi Salant, is using an agglutination test for ovine toxoplasmosis as part of his post-doctoral research work at the Hebrew University. He wanted to validate his assay and contacted Biogal in order to conduct a double blind study comparing the results from his assay against Biogal’s ImmunoComb® Ovine Toxoplasma Antibody Test Kit.
A final example of collaborative research which resulted in the development of an actual product was with Charles River Laboratories of the U.S.A. CRL is a world renown company that raises laboratory animals which they market to research institutions and companies. CRL thought that the ImmunoComb® technology could be applied for in-house health monitoring of laboratory animal colonies. They wanted to develop a kit for facilities that did not have fully equipped diagnostic laboratories. The Murine ImmunoComb® Antibody Test Kit for Mycoplasma pulmonis, Mouse Hepatitis Virus and Sendai Virus was the outcome of this project. CRL and Biogal are now working together on the development of a second murine ImmunoComb® kit.
Biogal welcomes opportunities to participate in research using the ImmunoComb® technology and invites investigators to contact us with their ideas on projects of mutual interest. We value relationships with individuals, other companies and institutions in order to further our knowledge and promote growth.