Research-grade to regulatory-grade · GCP · CLIA/CAP · FDA

Assay Validation

Bring us your research-grade assay. We optimize it for real-world specimens and validate it to the standard your intended use requires: GCP and GCLP for clinical trials, CLIA/CAP for patient testing, or FDA for a cleared or approved IVD.

Research to regulated

Your assay works in the lab. Now it has to hold up.

Many of the assays we validate began in an academic lab, a biotech discovery group, or as a research-use-only kit. Moving into a regulated setting means showing the assay performs on real patient specimens, across operators, reagent lots, instruments and days, with documentation an inspector or FDA reviewer will accept.

ResearchDx does that work end to end, in our CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited and ISO 13485:2016-certified laboratory.

300+

new assays validated since 2015

15+ years

of assay development and validation experience

FDA 510(k)

clearance for a test performed in our laboratory

Our process

How we take your assay forward

1

Technical assessment

We review your protocol, data, reagents and intended use, and run a gap analysis against the standard you need to meet.

2

Transfer

We bring the assay into our laboratory, reproduce your results, and lock down reagents, controls and procedures.

3

Optimize, as required

Where performance falls short, we tune extraction, input, chemistry, controls, cutoffs and analysis so the assay is robust on your intended specimens.

4

Validate

We write the validation plan with predefined acceptance criteria, execute it, and analyze the results statistically.

5

Report and launch

You receive a validation report and SOPs. We run the assay in our laboratory, transfer it to yours, or carry the data into a regulatory submission.

Validate for today, plan for what comes next

An assay validated for a clinical trial today may need CLIA validation tomorrow and an FDA submission after that. We design each validation so the data carry forward to the next stage.

GCP · CLIA/CAP · FDA

Validated to the standard you need

Each standard asks something different of your assay. We design the validation around how your results will be used.

GCP · GCLP

Clinical trials

Used for

Clinical trial endpoints, patient selection and exploratory biomarkers

What we validate

Fit-for-purpose validation, with testing under GCP and GCLP: controlled sample chain of custody, audit trails and audit-ready data.

CLIA · CAP

Patient testing (LDT)

Used for

Laboratory-developed tests reported to physicians, from our laboratory or yours

What we validate

Accuracy, precision, analytical sensitivity and specificity, interfering substances, reportable range and reference intervals, as CLIA requires (42 CFR 493.1253), plus CAP checklist and New York State requirements where they apply.

Performance characteristics

What a validation covers

We match the study design to your intended use and the standard you are validating to. A typical validation addresses each of the characteristics below.

Need an independent comparator to establish accuracy? Our orthogonal validation studies compare your assay with an independently validated method.

Assays and technologies

Experience across assays and platforms

We have validated assays across a wide range of technologies, analytes and specimen types, and we regularly onboard new platforms for our clients.

Next-generation sequencing

Targeted and custom panels, RNA-Seq, methylation and cfDNA/ctDNA liquid biopsy on Illumina platforms.

PCR, qPCR and ddPCR

Gene expression, copy number, genotyping, methylation, rare mutations, viral load and vector copy number.

Flow cytometry

Multiplex immunophenotyping, receptor occupancy and immune monitoring panels.

ELISA and immunoassays

Biomarker quantitation, pharmacokinetics, anti-drug antibodies and cytokines.

LC-MS/MS

Targeted quantitation of small molecules, metabolites, amino acids and peptides.

Cell, tissue and exosome methods

FISH, anatomic pathology and EXO-NET® extracellular vesicle isolation.

Let’s validate your assay.

Send us your protocol and intended use, and we’ll recommend a validation path and timeline.