Definiens and ACD Introduce RNAscope SpotStudio™
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Definiens and Advanced Cell Diagnostics (ACD) have unveiled the details of the RNAscope SpotStudio image analysis software to attendees at the Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference meeting in San Francisco, USA.
The software has already been sold to a top pharmaceutical company and a leading academic medical center under an early access program.
This advanced image analysis solution brings objective and accurate quantification to RNA in situ hybridization and enables a new generation of diagnostic applications based on single cell analysis.
For the first time, gene expression can be measured quantitatively at single-cell resolution and interpreted by pathologists within histopathological context.
Empowering Pathologists with an Easy-to-Use Tool for Quantitative Biomarker Analysis
Quantitative RNA in situ hybridization analysis has recently been made possible by the single molecule sensitivity and digital nature of RNAscope® assay technology. However, manual scoring is time consuming and prone to subjectivity and poor reproducibility.
RNAscope SpotStudio software is designed for pathologists with no prior training in image analysis. It is an intuitive automated solution that generates standardized and objective results in minutes.
Testing has shown that results obtained with RNAscope SpotStudio are comparable to careful manual annotations by pathologists. The software is compatible with image data from whole slide scanners and microscopes.
“In situ biomarker analysis tools such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) have been limited to subjective semi-quantitative scoring. RNAscope and the SpotStudio image analysis software take in situ biomarker analysis to a whole new level, where quantitative data at the single cell level can be obtained and interpreted within the histopathological context of the clinical specimen”, said Yuling Luo, Founder, President and CEO of ACD.
“RNAscope combines the advantages of IHC and PCR, making it a superior tool for tissue-based diagnostics and companion diagnostics”, Dr. Luo added. “Definiens’ invaluable expertise with tissue image analysis made it an ideal partner for the joint development of RNAscope SpotStudio.”
“Coming from a leading position in providing image analysis solutions to the life sciences market, Definiens is rapidly expanding its footprint in tissue diagnostics. We are very excited about this partnership with ACD representing a great example of advanced diagnostic solutions based on Definiens image and data analysis capabilities that will drive next generation diagnostics to truly enable personalized medicine”, said Thomas Heydler, CEO of Definiens.
Definiens and ACD will showcase RNAscope SpotStudio at the Molecular-Med Tri-Con in San Francisco (booth 210). The solution will be marketed and distributed by ACD and is currently being distributed to selected customers in an early access program. General availability is planned for the second quarter of 2013.
While RNAscope Spot Studio supports the analysis of brightfield images, RNA FISH assays can be quantified with Definiens Tissue Studio®. With over 450 deployed licenses, Definiens Tissue Studio is the leading image analysis solution for digital pathology.
Beyond the detection of spot-like stains, Definiens Tissue Studio provides morphological and molecular expression profiles from any solid tissue (IHC and IF) on a cell-by-cell basis.