22/02/2017

We are very pleased to announce the UK and Ireland Launch of the Fish Vitellogenin ELISA range from Tecomedical.

Vitellogenin is a yolk protein which naturally occurs in female fish. Exposure of male fish to endocrine disrupting chemicals can lead to vitellogenesis, where the male fish produce Vitellogenin, reducing their fertility and causing them to become ‘intersex’. Vitellogenin can subsequently be used as a biomarker for endocrine disruption, and is a useful endpoint in regulatory testing of chemicals.

The Tecomedical range of Fish Vitellogenin ELISAs have been validated for a large number of fish species, and are suitable for use with both freshwater and marine fish.

The Vitellogenin ELISA kits can be used in OECD tests 229, 230, 234, 240 as well as for REACH Testing. The range includes specific REACH Vitellogenin kits, which include the required inter-assay reference standard (different batch to the calibrator), and non-specific binding strip.

The ELISAs are validated for use with conventional serum and whole body homogenate samples, as well as with the epidermal mucus of the fish. Using the mucus of the fish as a sample offers a non-lethal sampling alternative, with just a simple swab down the side of the fish being required. The mucus collection set allows efficient sampling in the laboratory with reduced contamination risk, and increases practicality of sampling in the field.

Advantages of the Tecomedical Vitellogenin tests include;

• Room temperature assay
• Sample testing only in duplicate
• Calibrators supplied for 2 runs per plate
• High and Low level controls included
• Microtitre plate in break-away strip format
• Testing multiple fish species using one type of kit

The new test kits are suitable for use with automatic plate readers are and available now for evaluation.

The Tecomedical Vitellogenin kits can also be used for Environmental Endocrine Disruption Monitoring. When used in conjunction with the Mucus collection kits the impact of chemicals on fish in the wild can be assessed over time and without adversely affecting the fish population