Virus Quantification using the nCS1^TM

Better science

For measuring the infectivity of viruses, testing the immunogenicity of different viral preparations, and almost any down-stream analysis, accurate virus concentration measurements are critical for performing well-controlled experiments.

A retroviral drug product was serially diluted and the concentration measured as a function of size showing the excellent concentration linearity of the nCS1^TM:

More and more researchers are choosing the nCS1^TM for virus quantification because it is fast and easy to use and delivers a more accurate analysis of their virus samples than they can obtain using any other method.

Higher purity of viral preparations

Accurate and high-resolution particle concentration measurements enable direct quantification of the purity of virus preparations. Because the nCS1^TM measures all types of particles in the sample, it can be used to quantify impurities and other non-viral particles in a given preparation.

The figure below shows measurements of a virus preparation at progressive stages of purification. Clearly purification step 2 significantly enriches for the target virus, as evidenced by the peak in the size distribution.

Measurement examples

Customers use the nCS1^TM to characterize a broad variety of viruses, including:

We have detailed measurements on a number of different virus targets. These include measurements of a myxoma virus, a brick-shaped virion of about 200 nm to 300 nm in diameter. In one example these were tested in a cell culture medium with little sample preparation. The nCS1^TM was easily able to detect the virus population at 260 nm, even with a high concentration culture media background. Another example is where the nCS1^TM was used to measure both a wild-type flu B virus (WT) and a mutant form. A third example is provided by a measurement of maraba virus, which is reported by TEM to have a cylindrical diameter of ~65 nm and a length of ~180 nm. You can read more about these measurements on our blog page here.

Your virus not in this list? Email us to learn more or Send us a sample!