The two companies said that the AB SCIEX 5800 System represents a significant advancement in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight technology), which works by ionizing complex biological samples and identifying the individual protein components by their molecular weight.
This system enables researchers to identify up to 30% more proteins at a rate that is 10 times faster than any other MALDI system on the market, thereby setting the highest standard for protein biomarker discovery, MALDI imaging and protein identification, the two companies claim. It is reported that this system, combined with the release of a new processing software application, ProteinPilot 3.0, is part of a complete workflow that accelerates proteomics research.
The AB SCIEX 5800 System, which is now commercially available, is expected to advance the discovery of new biomarkers that could potentially yield more accurate and sensitive clinical tests in the future.
Laura Lauman, president of Life Technologies’s mass spectrometry systems division, said: “The AB SCIEX 5800 System delivers new breakthrough technology that provides a giant technological leap forward that will help translate today’s biomarker research into tomorrow’s personalized medicine.”