Contaminant Detection
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Threshold contaminant detection system

Dedicated platform for the rapid quantitation of biopharmaceutical products or contaminates from bioreactor/fermenters, downstream processing or final product quality control

The production of biopharmaceuticals, such as monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, vaccines, and nucleic acids requires special techniques and quality control methods. Electrophoresis, chromatography, and immunochemical methods are commonly used together to monitor and optimize the biopharmaceutical manufacturing process. Threshold®  is a dedicated platform for the rapid quantitation of biopharmaceutical products or contaminants from bioreactors/fermenters, downstream processing and final product quality control. The system is ideal for the quantitation of proteins, peptides and non-sequence specific total DNA.

Threshold measures a wide range of analytes such as host cell proteins, bovine contaminants (BSA, IgG, transferring and insulin), Protein A and G, and total DNA at low concentrations. To simplify assay development, all reagents are supplied in pre-packaged kits to label your antibodies or commercially available antibodies. To optimize the interaction between the antigen and antibody, binding occurs freely in solution where the molecules are maintained in their native conformation and antibodies retain 100% of their activity.  Assay sensitivity for proteins and peptides is typically equal to or better than radioimmunassays and at least 10X better than ELISA assays. When measuring DNA, sensitivity as low as 2 pg can be achieved. Typically assays have a dynamic range of 2 logs or greater, so fewer sample dilutions are required for accurate quantitation. Assays are fast and are complete in as little as 90 seconds. 

Optional Threshold Enterprise Software is available with a complete validation package and security tools that comply with GLP/GMP/FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements. The Threshold System's proven advantages of sensitivity, speed, reproducibility and reliability, as well as MDC's strong technical experience and support, have elevated this system to be the gold standard in the industry.


  • Pre-configured kits to analyze peptides, proteins and total DNA using a single system
  • All reagents provided to label your antibodies or commercially available antibodies quickly and easily
  • Assay dynamic range of 2 logs or greater enables the use of the same method from purification to product QC
  • High assay sensitivity without the use of radioactive reagents that require expensive disposal
  • Assay precision typically <10% for reproducible quantitation of contaminant levels in final product
  • Hybridization of the analyte occurs in the liquid phase for faster binding kinetics
  • Antigen-antibody complex is captured and concentrated on a membrane to achieve sensitivity equal to or better than radioimmunoassay, and at least 10 times better than ELISAs
  • Rapid sample analysis streamlines media selection and optimization of purification conditions
  • Strepavidin's strong affinity for biotin captures and concentrates analyte for high assay selectivity
  • The speed and sensitivity of Threshold enables the monitoring of protein production during the early stages of fermentation
  • Immunoassay detects protein degradation and conformational changes of protein products
  • Accurate quantitation to identify the optimal harvest time to maximize product yield from fermentations
  • Validated assays using quality controlled reagents and software
  • Software requires individual passwords and user IDs to access, managed access to major features, audit trail, and signed electronic statements complies with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements

Data sheet
contamination detection, measure analytes

Threshold®

The better way to analyze biomolecules without radioactivity

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