Pharmaceutical quality control (QC) laboratories worldwide rely on the traditional absorbance-based Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) and Tachypleus amebocyte lysate (TAL) assays to assure the safety of raw materials in-process samples and manufactured products.
However, Lonza has said it will be phasing out the current industry-standard absorbance reader for these assays —the ELx808 Absorbance Microplate Reader (ELx808) — ceasing to sell it from late 2023.
According to the company, the Nebula Absorbance Reader represents a technologically advanced, high-performance replacement reader, which delivers results comparable to those typically found with ELx808 and will facilitate the smooth continuation of current pyrogen and endotoxin testing programs.
Similar to the Nebula Multimode Reader, the Nebula Absorbance Reader is designed for use alongside Lonza reagents. It is optimized to work with Lonza’s absorbance-based endotoxin assays.
It also supports the readout for monocyte activation tests (MAT) such as Lonza’s PyroCell MAT System.
In addition, the new reader will provide QC labs with ‘new and improved’ functionality. It features high-performance optics and monochromator-based wavelength selection to enable ‘precise and accurate’ measurements of endotoxin levels.
Orla Cloak, vice president, head of bioprocessing at Lonza, said: “As we developed the new Nebula Absorbance Reader, we focused on optimizing functionality to enable it to provide the very best results for our customers.”
“QC teams can now access a thoroughly tested absorbance reader, specifically optimized for use with Lonza reagents and fully integrated with our WinKQCL Software. This launch will allow customers to confidently continue endotoxin workflows in the same smooth and streamlined way they are used to, with the support of new and improved testing functionality.”
Lonza will present data from the Nebula Absorbance Reader used with Lonza endotoxin assays during a poster presentation at the 2023 PDA Pharmaceutical Microbiology Conference in Washington, DC from 2–4 October 2023.
