Home IVD ManufacturingComplete Solutions for IVD Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA/CLEIA) Development

Complete Solutions for IVD Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA/CLEIA) Development

Your Partner from Concept to Clinic

CLIA/CLEIA assays provide sensitive and high-throughput target detection

Chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIA) combine the advantages of chemiluminescence sensitivity with the specificity of an immunoreaction. In this technique, an enzyme converts a substrate into a chemiluminescent signal that is emitted as photons of light in the visible or near visible range. The amount of light produced correlates to the amount of target analyte present in the sample.

CLIA assays provide a sensitive, high-throughput alternative to conventional colorimetric ELISA methods. Although the underlying principles are the same, the colorimetric substrate is replaced by a chemiluminescent substrate in CLIA assays.

In general, chemiluminescent substrates should provide the following advantages:

Fast reaction time
High signal-to-noise ratio
Long-lived emission signal
Stability at room temperature for the duration of the assay
Emission that is compatible with all microplate* formats and sizes, and amenable to automation and high-throughput screening

* Microplate selection: to develop a reliable CLIA assay, it is crucial to select a microplate that is suitable for luminescence. Plates are usually opaque white with solid white or clear-bottomed wells to avoid background and cross talk.

Ultimately, the target analyte is quantified by measuring the light intensity generated by the chemiluminescent immunoreaction. Luminescence is measured in Relative Light Units (RLU) by a luminometer, where RLUs are typically proportional to the amount of target analyte present in the sample.

Importantly, CLIA assays are one of the most sensitive detection methods due to signal multiplication and amplification. The technique can detect small concentrations of biological molecules (limit of detection = zeptomole 10^-21 mol). In the presence of enhancers, chemiluminescent reactions occur for even longer without a reduction in the light output. Substrate can be added only minutes before detection and there is no requirement for a long incubation period nor a need for stopping reagents, as is the case with conventional colorimetric ELISA assays.

Key Types of Chemiluminescent Immunoassay Methods:

Indirect CLIA, using enzyme markers
This common CLIA method involves an enzyme, typically horse radish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP), conjugated to a secondary antibody. This HRP– or AP–secondary antibody complex then catalyzes the conversion of chemiluminescent substrate, luminol and CSPD reagent [Disodium 3-(4-methoxyspiro {1,2-dioxetane-3,2′-(5′-chloro)tricyclo [3.3.1.13,7]decan}-4-yl)phenyl phosphate], respectively. These substrates, when oxidized, provide an easy means of signal detection and quantification due to prolonged signal emission.

Oxidation of luminol by hydrogen peroxide produces light emission at 425 nm. The addition of enhancers [e.g., potassium ferricyanide (red prussiate), potassium periodate] further boosts electron activation, leading to elevated analytic sensitivity.
Direct CLIA, using luminophore markers
This method commonly uses acridinium esters as luminophores conjugated directly to the primary monoclonal antibody to generate a signal. Acridinium esters are highly specific labels that spontaneously oxidize in the presence of alkaline hydrogen peroxide, yielding a signal at 429 nm within 2 seconds, compared to luminol which generates a longer lasting signal.

Find detailed protocols to perform direct and indirect CLIA and ELISA assays.

Products for your CLIA/CLEIA assay

Enzymes, Luminophores, Substrates and Enhancers – Enabling your chosen detection method

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP)
- HRP enzyme
- HRP substrates: luminol, optimized substrate for chemiluminescence assays, chemiluminescent substrate with
stabilized hydrogen peroxide, Luminata™ ELISA HRP substrates, and other substrates for chemiluminescence and
ELISA
- Enhancers of luminol and a signal enhancer kit
- Technical information
Alkaline Phosphatase (AP)
- AP enzyme
- AP substrate and enhancer
- Technical information
Other reagents that can be conjugated to HRP and AP for use in chemiluminescence assays: Streptavidin reagents, ExtrAvidin^® reagent, avidin reagents, avidin-biotin complex reagents
Acridinium esters: These luminophores can only be used in conjunction with luminescent detectors equipped to handle “flash” reactions which are transient in nature and reach maximum intensity within seconds

Antibody Portfolio and Custom Services – Take advantage of a broad product offering, supported by the expertise and customization you require

Over 90,000 antibodies targeting a wide variety of clinical conditions
Secondary antibodies specific for commonly used species, and antibody subtypes with a range of conjugation options (e.g., peroxidase-, alkaline phosphatase- and biotin-labeled antibodies
- Information on choosing a secondary antibody
In-house manufacture of monoclonal antibodies to all human immunoglobulin subtypes, including anti-human IgM
Custom antibody and protein production and conjugation services

Reagents for Antibody and Protein Production – Helping you manufacture the assay components you need

Immunization adjuvants - KLH and BSA carrier proteins, Freund’s adjuvant
Routine cell culture - Media, sera, supplements, additives, antibiotics
Hybridoma support reagents - Hybri-Max™ specialist media, supplements, reagents
Purification resins and reagents
- Protein A, Protein G, Protein L resins, including ProSep^®-vA
- Size exclusion and ion exchange resins
- Ammonium sulfate
- Cyanogen bromide-activated agarose for affinity chromatography

Blocking Agents – Secure the quality reagents you require for your assay's performance

Wide range of Bovine Serum Albumins (BSA), including Probumin^® for IVD applications
Blocking buffers including carbonate-bicarbonate buffer and casein blocking buffer, as well as blocking reagents
ChemiBlock™ - Active, passive, and isotype-specific blocking agents produced for IVD manufacturers
Alternative blockers, including sera from non-bovine sources and purified immunoglobulins

Estapor^® Magnetic and Polymeric Microspheres – Benefit from a consistent, sensitive and flexible range of assay enhancing options. Discover the possibilities in assay automation and purification through:

Magnetic core polymeric beads
Functionalized or non-functionalized surfaces - Amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, sulfite, sulfate, quaternary ammonium, chloromethyl
Bio-Estapor^® classic coatings (pdf) - Streptavidin, anti-mouse IgG, anti-human IgG, protein A, protein G
Customized coatings and conjugations

Off-the-Shelf Chemiluminescent Kits – Customizable according to your needs

One-Stop Shop for Ancillary Reagents – Simplicity and convenience to accelerate your commercialization

In-house manufacturer of all types of biological buffers
- Tris, bicarbonate, phosphate, borate, citrate
- ELITE buffers for IVD manufacturers
Detergents and surfactants including SDS, TWEEN^®, sodium deoxycholate, CHAPS, PVA, PEG, and PVP
Protease inhibitors - Cocktails and individual components
Phosphatase inhibitors - Cocktails and individual components
Proteins and peptides
Acids, bases and salts
Preservatives - sodium azide and the IVD biocide ProClin^™
Water and Milli-Q^® water purification systems
Consumables: Nunc Microplates and sealing films, Corning microplates, and cell culture plasticware

Download our brochure for a comprehensive list of ELISA kits and to search ELISA analysis kits by target or gene name which can be customized based on your CLIA assay needs.

Simplify CLIA/CLEIA assay development and manufacture with a partner who understands the IVD market

Accelerate your time to market with fit-for-use products which offer the quality, consistency, and documentation necessary for every step of your IVD development and manufacturing needs.

Proven Expertise in Immunoassay Development

Leverage our extensive immunoassay development knowledge, based on in-depth product development and manufacturing experience, and supported by IVD industry partnerships.

Discover the Value of Partnering from Concept to Clinic

By partnering with us early in development to source raw materials, you help to ensure a smooth and efficient transfer from R&D through to commercialization.

We offer:

Product selection assistance
Risk mitigation support
Clear quality and supply chain guidelines
A reliable and transparent global supply chain
Proactive forecasting
Superior documentation
Regulatory insight

Impact of Early Supplier Involvement:

Bulk and custom raw materials & contract (OEM) manufacturing for PCR assay developers and manufacturers

In addition to letting you design and order your custom DNA and RNA oligos and qPCR probes, we offer years of experience in critical and non-critical raw material manufacturing, supporting a full range of custom and contract manufacturing services for diagnostic manufacturers.

Let us partner with you from the development of the initial concept, through to scale up and final manufacturing. We ensure that you have quality products, at the optimal scale, at the right time, to aid your rapid commercialization.