Technology

High throughput DNA detection, at affordable costs

DairyGuard is a new, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic test for bovine mastitis enabling much more extensive surveillance and protection of herds than has been possible in the past. By analyzing DNA from a single sample, DairyGuard can identify a wide range of bacteria, including mastitis pathogens, biofilm-forming bacteria, and spoilage organisms. This detailed analysis empowers dairy farmers to pinpoint the exact source of milk quality problems, whether it's related to herd health, milking equipment, or environmental factors.

DairyGuard provides reduced turnaround and accurate analysis for many bacteria directly from a single milk sample without the need for pre-culturing.

DairyGuard uses DNA isolation and PCR amplification to identify a variety of pathogens directly and simultaneously from milk samples, with a throughput of up to 900 samples per day:

DNA isolation is performed on a milk sample. The extracted DNA is then further amplified and fluorophore labelled using a proprietary PCR system.
The amplified DNA is hybridized on the microarray consisting of over 60 spots containing specific oligo probes. The DNA will selectively bind to the specific spot(s) and the spot(s) location within the array and intensity will allow for the identification of the microbes present in the sample at a very low CFU/ml.

The DairyGuard solution is designed to provide a result within about 8 hours, which enables timely intervention and improve animal welfare and milk production. Up to 90 samples (plus 6 controls and calibrators) can be screened simultaneously on the 96-well array plate providing High-throughput screening and identification of a variety of pathogens directly from milk samples, with a projected throughput of up to 900 samples per day. Because DairyGuard analyses DNA, the test is not susceptible to problematic “No Growth” results common with microbiological cultures and is able to identify pathogens dead or alive. Samples treated with Bronopol, frozen or fresh are all acceptable.

The DairyGuard Advantage

By using one pair of universal 16S primers, all microbes in the sample are amplified within one reaction. The produced pool of amplified DNA is then sorted using the microarray with different known microbe-specific probes immobilized in each spot. Whether there is one microbe or 36 the cost is the same low amount.

In the world of Multiplex PCR reactions, however, microbe-specific probes (each probe being a unique primer pair) are bundled together in multiples of 4 per one reaction tube. This will yield only 4 answers per tube. Generally, these kits are therefore based on multiples of 4 yielding: 4, 8, 12 or 16 answers. Within this format, a competitor PCR test requires the equivalent of 9 reactions vs. the single reaction tube that Dairyguard uses with the corresponding additional costs involved.