The 68th annual meeting of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 31 to August 4. The conference drew 20,000 attendees, up 14% from 2015, with 735 exhibitors, nearly the same as the previous year.

The exhibit featured a number of product introductions for clinical testing and patient care. SeraCare Life Sciences launched a new lab QC software specifically for clinical labs running NGS-based assays. The iQ NGS QC Management Software is a cloud-based software tool for easily tracking, organizing and reporting all of a lab’s NGS QC metrics so as to comply with CAP CLIA audits. The software enables labs to centralize QC metrics in a single cloud-based location, leading to rapid generation of QC performance reports. The software also provides interactive visualization to easily identify unexpected results. The current list price is $12,500 per year. The product is presently under beta testing with select clients.

Advanced Instruments introduced the GloCyte Automated Cell Counter for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The cell counter uses fluorescence technology combined with highly specific reagents to deliver total nucleated cell (TNC) and red blood cell (RBC) results using a low sample volume of 30 µL per assay. The instrument allows for rapid detection using samples drawn of CSF for meningitis or any type of brain hemorrhage. Automation allows for rapid detection as opposed to manual methods, and it is the first instrument to capture fluorescence on the cell surface. The list price is $9,985 and $15 per assay (RBC and TNC).

Surmodics introduced the StabiBlock immunoassay stabilizer, designed to reduce non-specific binding. The one-step process streamlines manufacturing. It is available in two sizes, 50 mL and 1 L, and is priced at $199 per liter.

The Technology Partnership (TTP), a product technology development company with 350 engineers, launched its Design Biology services for rapid product development for POC diagnostic assays. TTP’s platforms and technologies convert lab-based biological processes (e.g., sample preparation, labeling and assay measurement) into low-cost, small instruments. The main platform introduced at AACC was Puckdx. Puckdx provides thermal control and readout for typical bioassays with a cost of less than $1,000. TTP platforms do not manufacture the systems themselves.

Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the Thermo Scientific LabLink xL 2.0. The cloud-based QA software includes a redesigned interface (dashboard) for simplified QC tracking in clinical chemistry and manufacturing labs. Available reports include the Method Performance and Sigma Score, which show which instruments are performing best.

Thermo Fisher also highlighted the Prelude LX-4 MD HPLC multi-channel instrument. Designed to increase productivity and efficiency of clinical-sample separations, the Prelude LX-4 MD can run up to four assays. Unlike comparable instruments, it uses pumps instead of syringes. Thermo Fisher also featured the KRYPTOR compact PLUS fully automated immune analyzer, which includes barcode tracking of samples and reagents.