The novel staining approach combines the multiplexing capabilities of fluorescence with the tissue context of brightfield whole slide scanning

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — March 17, 2011 — Flagship Biosciences announced today a novel whole slide imaging approach called Bridge Staining™, that allows a brightfield background to be aligned and overlaid on a fluorescent image on the same tissue section, allowing visualization of tissue morphologic features on the fluorescent image. The patent-pending technique is versatile, and can be used either with three to four color fluorochrome stained sections or autofluorescence or polarized scanning.

“While generally we prefer to work with brightfield pathology, but fluorescence presents useful applications in multiplexing of proteins in single tissue sections,” said Dr. Frank Voelker of Flagship Biosciences. “We utilize whole slide fluorescence scanning and analysis when two to four antibodies are required to be evaluated in a single section. However, fluorescence makes the determination of the local tissue context difficult for pathologists. This new approach allows immunofluorescence to be conducted as usual, but with the additional step of adding chromogen staining without interfering with fluorescence emissions. Protein expression can be quantified in tissue with fluorescence, with the advantage of using the chromagen staining to assist in pattern recognition of the regions of interest.”

The multimodal scanning is another in a long list of whole slide scanning and image analysis services offered by Flagship Biosciences, utilizing both whole slide brightfield and fluorescence scanning. The Bridge Staining™ approach is being refined in conjunction with a number of tissue-based companion diagnostics programs with Flagship’s pharmaceutical partners. Flagship Biosciences is a pathologist-owned digital pathology services organization.