The RAMP® System consists of a portable scanning fluorescence analyzer and single-use, disposable Test Cartridges. This platform technology delivers reliable results in approximately fifteen minutes depending on the assay, and has the potential to
be adapted to more than 250 medical and non-medical tests currently performed in laboratories. Learn more about how the RAMP System works.
Patented RAMP Internal Standard
Inherent variability is associated with traditional lateral flow assays. Factors contributing to variability include environmental conditions, lot-to-lot membrane variability, system-to-system differences, and sample flow characteristics due to viscosity.
RAMP incorporates a quantitative Internal Standard that is run and measured concurrently in every assay to compensate for these variations.
The RAMP System consists of two components: a disposable Test Cartridge that houses an analyte-specific immunochromatographic strip, and a portable fluorescence analyzer.
The Test Cartridge uses latex particles that are fluorescently labeled and tagged with antibodies against the analyte of interest.
Antigen bound particles are captured at the Detection Zone by specific antibodies and a portion of excess particles are captured at the Internal Standard Zone.
The Reader measures fluorescence emitted by the complexes captured in the Detection and Internal Standard Zones and calculates a Ratio between these measurements.
The RAMP Ratio corrects for inherent variability in the assay.
RAMP portable scanning fluorescence analyzer ~ System operations
A RAMP® assay can be designed for one of two traditional immunoassay modes depending on the target analyte. Sandwich assays are used for analytes with a high molecular weight (such as cardiac markers), while inhibition assays are used for analytes with a low molecular weight (such as hormones and therapeutic drugs).
To perform a test, the analyzer is turned on. It automatically prompts the operator to enter a sample identification number and the operator identification number.
The operator places a whole blood sample into the well of a Test Cartridge specific to the analyte of interest, and inserts the Test Cartridge into the analyzer.
Once the Test Cartridge has been inserted no further intervention by the operator is required. A bar code on the bottom of the Test Cartridge is read by the analyzer prompting test-specific information, including the identity of the analyte being tested, lot number, and calibration details to be available for the determination of the amount of analyte in the sample.
Once added to the Test Cartridge, the solution permeates the membrane strip; moves through the Detection and Internal Standard Zones; and is ultimately analyzed by the fluorescence reader.
The operational sequence of a RAMP sandwich assay is as follows:
A sample is applied into the sample well of the Test Cartridge and as it migrates along the strip, fluorescent-dyed latex particles coated with antigen-specific antibodies bind to antigen if present in the sample.
The fluid sample, along with bound latex particles and unbound latex particles, is then transported by capillary action through the strip to the Detection and Internal Standard Zones.
The Detection Zone contains a second antibody specific to the target analyte. If the fluid sample contains the target analyte, it will be captured by the antibody in the Detection Zone, arresting the migration of the attached latex particles.
If no target analyte is present, the latex particles will migrate past the Detection Zone.
The concentration of analyte located at the Detection Zone is directly related to the concentration of target analyte in the sample.
Past the Detection Zone is the Internal Standard Zone, which, for some sandwich assays, contains anti-mouse immunoglobulin. The Internal Standard particles bind and are arrested at this Zone.
Immunoassays based on fluorescence have substantially greater sensitivity and dynamic range than those based on earlier-generation detection techniques.
Nevertheless, the development of such assays has been limited by the need for stable dyes that do not cause sample interference, and the fact that the instrumentation required was both complex and expensive.
The RAMP® technology overcomes these limitations by using proprietary dyes that are both stable and free of interference. The Reader incorporates a single detector tuned to the emission wavelength of dye used to label the latex particles. When the chemical reaction in the Test Cartridge is complete, the analyzer emits excitation light, causing the dye to fluoresce at a wavelength that can be detected by the analyzer.
The RAMP System uses proprietary software on programmable, read-only lot cards, which are inserted into each analyzer when a new lot of tests are purchased.
These chips enable the Reader to perform multiple types of assays and automatically determine which test is being run. The chips are designed to automatically calibrate the Reader on a lot-specific basis.
