Biochemistry and Immunology

Biochemistry and Immunology

The Biochemistry section of Catlab includes analytical equipment with a high degree of automation and a high level of technology. It is structured in two large areas of knowledge: Biochemistry and Immunology.

They are processed daily3200 samples of different types: serum, plasma, urine, feces, semen, biological liquids.

Biochemistry knowledge area

This consists of a CORE, which is where the analysis of routine biochemistry, hormones, tumor markers, vitamins, and serology is carried out. It is made up of:

Modular Preanalytic (Cobas 8100), which distributes the serum and plasma tubes to the different analyzers, prepares, identifies the serum aliquots with barcodes, and archives all the primary tubes.
It is made up of different modules:

- Stool analysis is available with Oc-Sensor Pledia and Zeutec analyzers and other manual techniques.

Semen analysis for the study of sterility and vasectomy.

- Prenatal Screening of the risk of aneuploidies of the first and second trimesters. Catlab does more than 6000 tests annually, centralizing the study of a total of five ultrasound centers. It is recognized by the Departament de Salut de la Generalitat, collaborating with the Grup de Treball de Tècniques de Laboratori pel Cribratge Prenatal de Catalunya.

Immunology knowledge area

It has an expert computer program for the management of autoimmunity, with individual validation per patient. Clinical consultations are attended by specialists in Immunology and Clinical Analysis, and participates in the development of diagnostic algorithms in conjunction with clinicians from different specialties. We have three lines of work:

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Allergy
Study of antibodies against more than 170 total extract Allergens and Allergen Components corresponding to IgE and IgG isotypes and IgG4 subclass with technical fluoroimmunoassay from ThermoFisher (Phadia).
Accomplishment of the ISAC technique consisting of IgE microarrays for the simultaneous determination of specific IgE antibodies against 112 allergenic proteins present in more than 50 different allergens.

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Autoimmunity
Immunoblot, Elisa, IFI, and Fluoroimmunoassay techniques are available.
Antibody study for more than 20 clinical indications: connective tissue diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, anti-phospholipid syndrome, vasculitis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroid and liver diseases, autoimmune neurological syndromes and dermatological diseases.

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Immunochemistry
Study of Monoclonal Components by Capillary Electrophoresis, and immunofixation on agarose gels in serum and urine.
Analysis of low concentration proteins by nephelometry and turbidimetry.