Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a technique that allows the visualization of specific nucleic acid sequences within a cellular preparation. It has potential applications in in vitro diagnostics (IVD), gene expression analysis, and cancer surveillance. With many years of rich experience and in-depth knowledge, Creative Biolabs provides high-quality FISH services to help the pipeline of IVD development. We have a well-established standard operating procedure that allows efficient optimization of labeling a variety of fluorescent probes, sample preparation, hybridization conditions, and imaging analysis.
FISH often uses DNA fragments incorporated with fluorophore-coupled nucleotides as probes to examine the presence or absence of complementary sequences in fixed cells or tissues under a fluorescent microscope. The classic FISH technique relied solely on (usually 16S) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) as a probe-target. The rRNA immediately suggests itself as the ideal target because it is present in all living cells in relatively high copy numbers. Furthermore, since it is traditionally used as a phylogenetic marker, there is a lot of sequence data available for rRNA probe design. FISH tests are applied for hematologic and solid tumors and are one of the fastest-growing areas in cancer diagnosis. FISH has also been used to detect infectious microbes and parasites like malaria in human blood cells.
Each method has its advantages and limitations. FISH can be used as an auxiliary detection method to some extent. For example, FISH plays a key role in the diagnosis of Babesia. The early intra-erythrocytic stages of human-infecting Babesia species in Giemsa or Wright's-stained blood smears can be mistaken for the ring and trophozoite stages of P. falciparum. This is because Babesiosis and Borreliosis share similar clinical manifestations and occur as coinfections in patients. The clinical symptoms of Babesiosis also overlap with those of malaria. As a result, this can lead to misdiagnosis in localities where Babesiosis and malaria are co-endemic. The ability of the Babesia genus-specific FISH test to differentiate Babesia infections in blood from those caused by Borrelia, Plasmodium, and other pertinent blood-borne pathogens is therefore important for diagnosing Babesiosis.
Fig.1 Photographs showing the results of the Babesia genus-specific FISH test on different Babesia species. (Shah, 2020)
Known for our deeply-rooted expertise and abundant experience, Creative Biolabs fully understands the details of FISH and IVD development. We have developed a delicate platform to discover FISH assays applicable to IVD. Our scientists will work side-by-side with you to find the best design to achieve your aims. We offer a full array of custom FISH services from probe design, chromosome/cell preparation to expert result interpretation. Our FISH services including but not limited to:
Although FISH is a very general technique, the differences between the various FISH techniques are often overlooked. Based on the variations in the sequence and labeling of the probes; and how they are used in combination, we are dedicated to offering a comprehensive range of FISH analysis services to accelerate your IVD projects.
(1) We provide a variety of customized probe services to meet your research needs.
(2) Our experts are outstanding in operation to save your time and cost.
(3) Our first-class equipment can detect the slightest signal with high sensibility.
Creative Biolabs provides a full line of FISH services, from standardized testing of validated assays to custom development of new assays applicable to IVD. Our scientists will provide you with a detailed report that includes the description of the methods, results, and conclusion of the tests. If you are interested in FISH services, you can contact us.
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