Once lost or compromised, a sample is gone forever. Often additional samples cannot be retrieved or only with substantial costs or time delays. Thus, sample integrity is paramount. It must be established and maintained throughout the workflow. Making compromises, even in a single workflow step, can jeopardize your sample and the entire result.
Sample integrity is dependent on three main elements:
Avoiding contamination
Minimizing unspecific binding of rare or selected molecules
Reproducibility of processes
Avoiding Contamination
There is a vast diversity of unwanted contaminants:
Target molecules, leading to false-positive results
Molecules with comparable characteristics in e.g. photometry, leading to false-positive results.
Reaction inhibitors, leading to false-negative results
Chemicals degrading the target molecules or cells, leading to false-negative results
Minimizing unspecific binding of rare or selected molecules
Some samples are in low abundance from the beginning. Especially in these cases, it is crucial to retain as much as possible of your target molecule or cells throughout your workflow. Eppendorf consumables with low binding characteristics can reduce target molecule loss substantially.
Maintaining sample integrity continuously throughout the process from raw material to reportable result is a daily challenge in every lab. Eppendorf products with their verified performance specifications support consistent processes and reproducible test results in every single run.
Eppendorf has a lot of technologies at hand to ensure sample integrity. Make use of these technologies by using customized or OEM-products from Eppendorf in your workflows. Just contact us to discuss the broad range of opportunities.