Laboratory Services

Benchmark's laboratory services provide a convenient, efficient and reliable source for your data-production needs. Benchmark performs testing according to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or client specific procedures upon request. A proprietary computerized sample-tracking system is used to monitor sample status, inventory location, data collection and sample disposition. This system facilitates the collection of high-quality data, generated in a timely manner, and decreased turn-around time.

The objective of Laboratory Services is to perform and support a wide array of in vitro testing for discovery, preclinical, clinical, manufacturing and quality control. Laboratory Services are designed to support the data required for regulatory agencies, and to provide competitive customized data sets to enhance or resolve technology in a regulatory compliant environment. The Benchmark laboratory includes over 14,000 square feet of space that is divided into eight laboratories, plus three HEPA-filtered laboratories, cold storage, and media preparation rooms. Typically, laboratory studies involve developing processes or assays that are more reliable and reproducible, but they also provide novel ways to interface with regulatory agencies for product development. Benchmark's experience in assay validation, qualification of reagents, and the characterizations of reference standards, can help build strong data sets for traditional or novel procedures to interface with the appropriate regulatory dossiers.

Benchmark's Laboratory Services Include:

Assay Development:

• ELISA
• Receptor/ligand interference and competitive assay
• PCR assays, including Real-time PCR
• Serology assays, membrane lifts, precipitations, antibody tagging (fluorescence and chromagenic), MAT (Microagglutination Test)
• Western Blots
• QC test (Master Cell Stocks, Master Seeds)
• HPLC Assays

Bioanalytical Testing and Validation:

• Serum neutralization assays
• Virus-isolation assays with indirect-fluorescent assay or cytopathic-effect analysis
• Mucosal immune-response assays
• Hemagglutination and hemagglutination-inhibiton assays
• Antiviral-compound testing or screening
• Cell pathology and toxicity screening
• HPLC Assays

Genetic Testing Services:

• Amplified Fragment - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP)
• PCR and reverse transcriptase PCR
• Real-time PCR
• Antibiotic resistance, growth inhibition testing
• Gene isolation and cloning
• Gene expression analysis
• rDNA vector development

General Services:

• Antigen isolation, purification, quantitation and 9 CFR testing
• In vitro reference antigen characterization
• Identity assays
• Stability assays
• Bacterial/viral-growth promotion; recombinant DNA or fermentation-growth selection optimization
• Fermentation-product analysis
• Bacterial/viral neutralization
• Virus/bacteria/parasite isolations
• Monoclonal antibody production
• Flow cytometry
• Mitogenic compound screening
• Cell based assays for cytokines, toxins and cell receptors
• Cell and virus stock (Master Seed, Master Cell Stock) clean-up and verification
• Assay and methods validation

Benchmark produces custom hyperimmune anti-serum, made to meet client needs including specific QC or assay requirements.

Reagents currently available have been 9CFR tested and may be purchased in 1ml vials or bulk. Serum available include the following:

Mono-Specific Hyperimmune Polyclonal Sera:

• Porcine anti-BVD
• Porcine anti-PI3
• Porcine anti-BHV-1
• Porcine anti-CAV-2
• Porcine anti-CDV
• Porcine anti-CPI
• Porcine anti-CPV
• Porcine anti-CCV
• Porcine anti-BRSV
• Porcine anti-FCV
• Porcine anti-FRV

Please inquire about current availability and pricing.