AESKU.Group

AESKU.GROUP, based in Wendelsheim, Germany, is a research-focused supplier of innovative and efficient products and services for the early detection, diagnosis and prognosis of autoimmune diseases.

In only ten years since its foundation in the year 2000 AESKU.DIAGNOSTICS has become a recognized name in the field of autoimmunity for launching over 150 different products together with uninterrupted services in more than 90 countries worldwide.

Since then AESKU.Group simplifies the lab routine with accurate, robust and reliable tests, laying equal emphasis on all major disease sectors, the company has earned a solid reputation in autoimmune diagnostics.

Nowadays the AESKU.GROUP is a group of companies that includes AESKU.DIAGNOSTICS (Autoimmunity IVD), AESKU.THERAPY (Autoimmune Therapies), AESKU.SYSTEMS (Lab Automation), AESKU.KIPP INSTITUTE (International Research Cooperation) and the subsidiaries AESKU.INC (US).

Besides its own outstanding commitment to research and development AESKU.DIAGNOSTICS has initiated and supports the AESKU.KIPP INSTITUTE, a non-profit organization, primarily active in basic research and interdisciplinary knowledge transfer in autoimmunity.

The range of products offered by AESKU Diagnostics includes:

AESKUSLIDES^® IFA Test Kits

Simplify your routine autoimmunity sample screening with AESKUSLIDES^®. The Immunofluorescence (IFA) product line from AESKU.GROUP is designed to fit in with lab automation needs.

All parameters from this product line are pre-programmed and validated for use in HELMED^® and HELIOS^® IFA Processors.

The major patterns found on the AESKUSLIDES^® are collected in the HELPS+ software and HELIOS^® device software image library.
The AESKUSLIDES^® product line comprises a complete panel of cell and tissue based slides and kits for the detection of major autoantibodies.
Easy handling: ready to use reagents and controls with vials that fit directly in the HELMED^® and HELIOS^® racks.
Full traceability: every Slide is labeled with product barcode and individual number.
Components such as wash buffer, sample buffer or mounting medium are common amongst the entire product range.
Vacuum sealed slides provide long shelf life.
Especially formulated mounting medium allows its use in the HELMED^® and HELIOS^® IFA Processors.
Strong hydrophobic Teflon mask coating of the slides avoids cross contamination and requires minimal conjugate volumes.

AESKULISA^® ELISA Test Kits

AESKULISA® product line comprises ELISA assays for all major autoimmune disease groups – from routine to research application. Offering more than 140 Kits, AESKU.DIAGNOSTICS has one of the widest portfolios of ELISA assays worldwide.

Different kit configurations provide clinicians with maximum flexibility by choosing the format that fits best to their diagnostic needs:
The simplest format is the single antigen assay, a single antigen coated plate and one antibody subclass for detection. In case of a combined determination of different antibody subclasses a check assay has to be chosen.

The screening assay allows the simultaneous detection of different antigens in one well. Antibodies against several antigens can be determined separately with a profile assay. Whereas the last both formats can be tested qualitatively, in single antigen assays and screening assays, the end user may choose between quantitative or qualitative analysis.

AESKUBLOTS^® BLOT Test Kits

Immunoblot is the method of choice if a positive result of a screening test has to be confirmed or differentiated. The AESKUBLOTS® product line represents a variety of different immunoblots for efficient profile testing of autoimmune and infectious diseases. AESKUBLOTS® comprises products in the field of Rheumatology, Vasculitis, Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Myositis and Borrelia.

AESKU^®´s complete in-house production philosophy for AESKUBLOTS^® products, allows AESKU^® full control over the entire production chain, guaranteeing efficient and fast troubleshooting, as well as a unique technical support to end-users.

Coated with a selected panel of specific antigens on one test strip, AESKUBLOTS^® provide a complete diagnostic overview with one single test and are suitable for screening of autoimmune diseases as well as cost-effective differential diagnosis. Antigens are applied as lines on a nitrocellulose membrane. Each patient’s serum is incubated on a separate membrane strip. If antibodies are present, they will then bind to the antigen on the membrane. In a second step, anti-human immunoglobulins (conjugated to horseradish peroxidase) are added and incubated, to react with the antigen-antibody complex of the samples. After the addition of TMB-substrate, bound antibodies are stained, gaining visibility as intense dark bands at the corresponding antigens line. Total incubation time for performing AESKUBLOTS^® Immunoblot tests is 112 minutes and all steps proceed at room temperature. The intensity of specific bands can be compared to the cutoff band whose intensity is adjusted specifically to each product. Moreover, the intensity of the bands correlates to the antibody titer.

Each kit contains 24 test strips. Each Test strip is individually numbered and has a product specific color code. All tests of the autoimmune AESKUBLOTS^® line share the same, interchangeable buffer- and substrate systems, making it possible to simultaneously process strips from different AESKUBLOTS^® autoimmune products. The validity of the test results is ensured via two control bands – one functional control and one cut-off control -, both bands have to be visible. The color intensity of the cut-off control has to be weaker than the color intensity of the functional control. Staining of both bands visually indicate that proper incubation of conjugate and substrate took place. Only minimal laboratory equipment is needed (pipettes, shakers, etc.) and all necessary items (like e.g. tweezers, incubation trays, labels…) to manually run the kit are included.

HELIOS is a revolutionary system that automates the complete pipetting and image capturing of IFA (immunofluorescence) tests.It is the first and only system to automate this process completely from beginning to end – offering unparalleled process control, traceability, standardization, ease of use, and maximum efficiency by requiring technical intervention only for expert review.

IFA – HELIOS

Three needlesspeeds up the process, ensures timing per well, prevents slidings drying out.IFA Processoris based on the HELMED Platform and capable of performing all IFA process steps automatically.Slide Barcode Readerprovides slide traceability. AESKUSLIDES and barcoded e.g. type, lot, etc. and a unique serial number, ensuring front end traceability and compliance with lab accreditation.Sample barcode readerensures sample traceability and eliminates time and error.New Multi-Rackgives high flexibility, accepts most tubes.Built-in LED microscope, incorporating NIKON based opticsis complemented by the AESKU engineered motorized mount ensuring both accuracy and speed.The camera performs high tech autofocus algorithms storing multiple images per well. AutomationReduce hands-on time and improve standardization through a completely automated IFA process.

HELIOS processor performs all IFA process steps automatically
Built-in camera performs high tech autofocus algorithms so that clear pictures from the wells are stored according to user specified positions
Mounting medium dispenses to complete processing

HELIOS provides a revolutionary immunofluorescence platform incorporating many benefits in a single machine, including:

full traceability
no darkroom needed
slide processing and reading
powerful integrated image pre-classification tool
standardization of IFA
homogeneous working protocol
resource optimization
increased throughput
saves both time and money
simple implementation lab routine
HELIOS automated IFA System – is FDA cleared

Automate IFA processing and incubate slides from room temperature to 45ºC with this immunofluorescence open system for both infectious serology and autoimmunity slides.

Efficient

Reduce operator steps and spend 48% less time on IFA processing than when using a 1 needle (16 slide capacity) instrument.

Load and run the HELMED in 5 minutes instead of spending 1 hour on manual IFA processing
3 independent needles increase processing speed and improve results
3 independent rings increase processing speed and reduce arm movement

High Capacity

Maximize throughput with HELMED’s reagent capacity and practicability.

Automate up to 20 slides and 4 different tests per run with 4 different substrates
Combine several reagent racks in the outer ring, each with a capacity of up to 16 reagent bottles
Fit AESKUSLIDES reagents, calibrators, and control vials directly into their corresponding positions

Traceability

Eliminate transcription errors with a built-in barcode reader and LIS communication.

Automate detection and scanning of sample tube ID
Ensure correct patient IDs
No transcription required

Automation

Ensure operator consistency with complete automation of all IFA processing steps.

Standardized IFA processing prevents human operator errors
Screening and titration with patient work list
Time-controlled counterstain and mounting medium addition (validated with the AESKUSLIDES mounting medium)
Flexible protocol programming

Small Footprint

Maximize lab space in a single compact areaOne system with multiple options – capability to perform IFA, ELISA, and blot techniques in the same instrument

HELIA is a fully automated analyzer for line immunoassays and immunoblots. The system is able to perform all immunoblot processing steps, and due to an integrated camera module, it is able to read and report immunoblot results.

Ultra compact design – High throughput.
Up to 40 samples in one single run.
Up to 40 stripes (5x 8 stripes) from 9 different tests in one run.
camera module, it is able to read and report immunoblot results.
Ultra compact design – High throughput.

FULLY AUTOMATEDA highly sensitive camera allows the HELIA system to perform immunoblots from the primary sample tube, to the interpreted results, the HELIA is a walkaway system.BARCODE RECOGNITIONSecure workflow due to ID Barcode Scanner for automatic sample detection and identification.OPTIMIZATIONUsing a highly sensitive camera with 5 megapixel resolution CMOS color sensor, enables the HELIA system to eliminate the strip drying step, commonly added at the end of the reaction, when performing immunoblotting with other systems.CONNECTIONBidirectional connection with AESKU.LAB® middleware and/or LIS. Requests the sample-assay combination from the AESKU.LAB® or LIS after scanning your sample tubes. Sends all results back to AESKU.LAB® and/or LIS. The software includes several user rights.LIQUID DETECTIONfor patient samples and reagents. Immediately after starting, all conjugates, substrates and sample buffer are checked for their correct positions. Errors are indicated by a warning symbol indicating that the log file must be checked for errors.TRACEABILITYFull automation of the immunoblot procedure with sample tubes. A log file will be created for each day the HELIA software is initiated.HELIA SOFTWAREHELIA Device Software is very user friendly. It offers a menu control panel with different toolbars (ribbons) for each menu option. The area below the ribbon reveals the corresponding information and also offers active elements such as buttons, tabulator fields and check boxes as well as passive fields, such as text and graphic boxes.

Autoimmune