|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{Infobox company | | {{Short description|Non-invasive urine-based metabolic screening test}} |
| | name = Metascreen | |
| | products = Metascreen metabolic screening test
| |
| | owner = Cordlife Group Limited
| |
| | website = http://www.metascreen.org
| |
| }} | |
|
| |
|
| '''Metascreen''' is an advanced non-invasive metabolic screening test distributed by [[Cordlife]] Group Limited ("Cordlife"). It can detect as many as 110 [[Inborn error of metabolism|inborn errors of metabolism]] ("IEMs", or metabolic disorders) from a urine specimen. Cordlife owns the brand name and trademark, "Metascreen". | | '''Metascreen''' is a non-invasive [[metabolic screening]] test developed and distributed by '''[[Cordlife Group Limited]]'''. It is designed to detect up to 110 different types of [[inborn errors of metabolism]] ('''IEMs'''), also known as [[metabolic disorders]], from a simple [[urine]] specimen. The test is intended for early diagnosis and intervention in infants and young children, often shortly after birth. |
|
| |
|
| ==History==
| | Cordlife owns the '''Metascreen''' trademark and brand name, and the test forms part of the company’s suite of preventive and diagnostic healthcare services. |
|
| |
|
| Metascreen, as a newborn metabolic screening test, was first launched by Cordlife in India in October 2013.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url = http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news/cordlife-launches-metascreen-metabolic-screening-service-5822531022_1.html|title = Cordlife launches MetaScreen Metabolic Screening Service|last = |first = |date = |work = |accessdate = }}</ref> Since April 2014, Metascreen became available also in Hong Kong and the Philippines through Cordlife for parents looking for more comprehensive screening of metabolic disorders for their children. As a newborn suffering from certain metabolic disorder, such as isovaleric acidemia, may appear asymptomatic in the first few days or even weeks of life, early detection and treatment is key in preventing irreversible lifelong complications, such as physical disability or mental retardation.
| | == Methodology == |
|
| |
|
| ==Technology==
| | Metascreen utilizes advanced [[mass spectrometry]] and biochemical analysis to identify metabolic conditions that may otherwise go unnoticed during infancy. These conditions can affect the body's ability to properly break down or utilize certain proteins, fats, or carbohydrates, leading to the accumulation of harmful substances or a deficiency of necessary compounds. |
|
| |
|
| Unlike the conventional dried blood spot test for [[newborn screening]] that involves a painful heel prick, Metascreen uses urine specimen, collected without harm or discomfort to the newborn, to detect as many as 110 metabolic disorders. The urine specimen is collected on a filter paper, which is then air-dried and sent to the laboratory for analysis using a [[Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry|gas chromatography-mass spectrometry]] instrument ("GC-MS"). GC-MS is a [[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] approved method for urinary [[analyte]] detection, a gold standard for [[lipid]]s, drug [[metabolite]]s and environmental analysis.<ref>{{Cite journal|url = |title = Colin F. Poole, Gas Chromatography, Elsevier 2012|last = |first = |date = |journal = |accessdate = |doi = |pmid = }}</ref>
| | == Conditions detected == |
| | Metascreen can identify disorders across various metabolic categories, including but not limited to: |
|
| |
|
| Many of the IEMs that are classified as "organic acidemia", in which organic acids accumulate in the urine of newborns with these disorders,<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|url = http://quimica.udea.edu.co/~carlopez/cromatogc/gcms_bio_recien.pdf|title = Kuhara, 2001. Diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism using filter paper urine, urease treatment, isotope dilution and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J. Chromatogr. B. 758 (2001): 3-25.|last = |first = |date = |journal = |accessdate = |doi = |pmid = }}</ref> are easily and accurately picked up by GC-MS.. The GC-MS platform is recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics for the detection of organic and amino acidemias through the urine.<ref>{{Cite journal|url = |title = American College of Medical Geneticists, Standards and Guidelines for Clinical Genetics Laboratory|last = |first = |date = |journal = |accessdate = |doi = |pmid = }}</ref> Furthermore, the platform has also been shown to be reliable in detecting other types of IEMs, such as sugar metabolism disorders and fatty acid oxidation disorders.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|url = |title = Shoemaker, J. D., 2010. One-step metabolomics: carbohydrates, organic and amino acids quantified in a single procedure, J Vis Exp 40.|last = |first = |date = |journal = |accessdate = |doi = |pmid = }}</ref> Indeed, GC-MS analysis is increasingly becoming a common way to diagnose IEMs for earlier intervention and treatment, resulting in a better outcome and quality of life.
| | * '''[[Amino acid metabolism]] disorders''' |
| | * '''[[Fatty acid oxidation disorder]]s''' |
| | * '''[[Organic acidemias]]''' |
| | * '''[[Carbohydrate metabolism]] disorders''' |
| | * '''[[Urea cycle disorders]]''' |
|
| |
|
| ==Use of urine as a diagnostic biofluid==
| | Examples of specific conditions screened by Metascreen include: |
|
| |
|
| As a major organ for excretion, the kidney removes waste materials and chemicals from the body,<ref>{{Cite web|url =http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/function-kidneys/|title =WedMD Information and Resources, Your kidneys and how they work|date =|accessdate =|website =|publisher =|last =|first =|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20140902041004/http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/function-kidneys|archivedate =2014-09-02|df =}}</ref> such as increased concentrations of intermediary metabolites of a particular pathway, making urine (the waste product from the kidney) particularly useful for medical diagnostics. The key advantages of using urine as a biofluid are: (1) its sterility; (2) accessibility and non-invasive method of collection; and (3) it being largely free from interfering proteins or lipids.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|url = |title = Bouatra S, Aziat F, Mandal R, Guo AC, Wilson MR, et al. (2013) The Human Urine Metabolome. PLoS ONE 8(9): e73076.|last = |first = |date = |journal = |accessdate = |doi = |pmid = }}</ref>
| | * [[Phenylketonuria]] (PKU) |
| | * [[Maple syrup urine disease]] |
| | * [[Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency]] (MCADD) |
| | * [[Glutaric acidemia type I]] |
| | * [[Galactosemia]] |
|
| |
|
| Although the human urine metabolome is a subset of the human serum metabolome, more than 484 compounds identified in urine by Bouatra et al. (either experimentally or via literature review) were not previously reported to be in blood.<ref name=":2" /> The same group hypothesised that this is because the kidneys do an extraordinary job of removing and/or concentrating certain metabolites from the blood, hence, compounds far below the limit of detection in blood (using today’s instrumentation) are well above the detection limit in urine.<ref name=":2" /> This difference, combined with the ability of the kidneys to handle abnormally high or abnormally low concentrations of metabolites, makes urine a particularly useful biofluid for medical diagnostics.<ref name=":2" /> In fact, urinary metabolites have been used to characterize nearly 220 diseases.<ref name=":2" />
| | == Procedure == |
| | Metascreen is a painless, non-invasive test that requires only a small sample of the baby's urine. The collection is typically done at home using a sterile collection kit provided by Cordlife. Once the sample is collected, it is sent to a certified laboratory for analysis. |
|
| |
|
| ==Products and Services== | | == Advantages == |
| | * Non-invasive compared to [[heel prick test]]s |
| | * Screens for a broader range of IEMs (up to 110 conditions) |
| | * Early detection may help prevent irreversible damage or developmental delays |
| | * Allows for early dietary or therapeutic intervention |
|
| |
|
| At present, Metascreen is available only for newborns through Cordlife clients, selected clinics and hospitals. Using GC-MS instrumentation and proprietary planar bioinformatics, where multiple analyte profiles are used to detect each metabolic disorder, and benchmarked against international and local database of normal samples for the identification of an abnormal case, Metascreen can accurately and specifically identify the presence or absence of a metabolic disorder. Up to 250 metabolites that are excreted in the urine are analysed using the GC-MS for the detection of inborn errors of metabolism.
| | == Cordlife Group Limited == |
| | [[Cordlife Group Limited]] is a consumer healthcare company listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), specializing in [[cord blood banking]], diagnostic testing, and maternal-child healthcare services. It operates in multiple Asian markets including [[Singapore]], [[India]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]], and the [[Philippines]]. |
|
| |
|
| The urine specimen of newborns should ideally be collected at 48 hours after birth (or within the first 7 days of birth) and after the newborn had at least a first feed to enable early detection and treatment of any identified metabolic disorder. Most babies will test negative for metabolic disorders, however if the newborn’s test shows an abnormal result, Cordlife will immediately contact the attending physician (for example, the Paediatrician), who will then provide instructions on what to do next.
| | == See also == |
| | | * [[Inborn error of metabolism]] |
| ==Controversies== | | * [[Newborn screening]] |
| | | * [[Cordlife Group Limited]] |
| Cordlife announced in October 2013 that Cordlife India has introduced Metascreen service through a strategic collaboration with Navigene Genetic Science, a genetic diagnostic and research company.<ref>http://cordlife.listedcompany.com/newsroom/20131010_073220_P8A_B592E3C2C146005048257BFF0037D404.1.pdf</ref> In 2014, Navigene was embroiled in a controversy where its founders were accused of data and scientific research theft and fined for INR 3 Million by the Adjudicating Authority of the Department of Information Technology, Government of India.<ref>https://it.maharashtra.gov.in/1121/Statement-of-Cases?ID=3</ref><ref>http://indianexpress.com/article/mumbai/grammatical-error-nails-copycat-genetic-research-firm/</ref> Navigene rejected all allegations<ref>http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-firm-slapped-rs-30-lakh-fine-for-data-theft-1956820</ref> and has filed a writ petition (No. WP/3291/2014) with the High Court of Mumbai to challenge and squash the order.
| | * [[Phenylketonuria]] |
| | | * [[Mass spectrometry]] |
| ==References==
| |
| <references />
| |
|
| |
|
| | == External links == |
| | * [https://www.cordlife.com/ Cordlife Official Website] |
| | * [https://www.cordlife.com/sg/metascreen Metascreen - Cordlife Singapore] |
| | {{nt}} |
| | [[Category:Medical tests]] |
| [[Category:Neonatology]] | | [[Category:Neonatology]] |
| | [[Category:Urine tests]] |
| [[Category:Inborn errors of metabolism]] | | [[Category:Inborn errors of metabolism]] |
| [[Category:Epidemiology]] | | [[Category:Medical diagnostics]] |
| [[Category:Rare diseases]] | | [[Category:Trademarks]] |
| {{dictionary-stub1}}
| |
Non-invasive urine-based metabolic screening test
Metascreen is a non-invasive metabolic screening test developed and distributed by Cordlife Group Limited. It is designed to detect up to 110 different types of inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs), also known as metabolic disorders, from a simple urine specimen. The test is intended for early diagnosis and intervention in infants and young children, often shortly after birth.
Cordlife owns the Metascreen trademark and brand name, and the test forms part of the company’s suite of preventive and diagnostic healthcare services.
Methodology[edit]
Metascreen utilizes advanced mass spectrometry and biochemical analysis to identify metabolic conditions that may otherwise go unnoticed during infancy. These conditions can affect the body's ability to properly break down or utilize certain proteins, fats, or carbohydrates, leading to the accumulation of harmful substances or a deficiency of necessary compounds.
Conditions detected[edit]
Metascreen can identify disorders across various metabolic categories, including but not limited to:
Examples of specific conditions screened by Metascreen include:
Procedure[edit]
Metascreen is a painless, non-invasive test that requires only a small sample of the baby's urine. The collection is typically done at home using a sterile collection kit provided by Cordlife. Once the sample is collected, it is sent to a certified laboratory for analysis.
Advantages[edit]
- Non-invasive compared to heel prick tests
- Screens for a broader range of IEMs (up to 110 conditions)
- Early detection may help prevent irreversible damage or developmental delays
- Allows for early dietary or therapeutic intervention
Cordlife Group Limited[edit]
Cordlife Group Limited is a consumer healthcare company listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), specializing in cord blood banking, diagnostic testing, and maternal-child healthcare services. It operates in multiple Asian markets including Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
