Next Generation FISH and Imaging Automation
The unique molecular beacon technique and automated analysis with Metafer guarantee precise results.
Direct Multiplex Imaging (DMI) is a new hybridization technology considered as a disruptive innovation from previous fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) assays. Similar to traditional FISH assays, DMI is a molecular diagnostics tool for the direct identification and differentiation of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast or fungi, even from challenging patient samples.
DMI TECHNOLOGY
MetaSystems Indigo is the first company to combine a novel DNA-based hybridization technology with automated assay evaluation to enable high throughput sample processing. The DMI technology uses molecular DNA beacons as probes for the identification of pathogens.
DNA beacons are hairpin-shaped structures that consist of a probe sequence (loop) and 3′ and 5′ ends (stem) that carry a fluorophore and a quencher. The loop sequence is complementary to a target sequence. When hybridization occurs, the stem opens and a fluorescent signal is emitted that can be detected by fluorescence microscopy. Unbound probes remain in a closed configuration and their signal is quenched.
ANALYSIS
The evaluation of the assay is performed with a flexible automated scanning platform, which images and analyzes the processed slides and archives the results. A robot independently manages the transport of slides to and from the scanning module.
Visual presentation is supported by a customer interface allowing clear and reliable interpretation of results. The total time to run the assay including analysis, LIMS compatible report preparation and automated archival storage is 35 minutes. New results, when in the continuous mode setting, are available every 5 minutes.
The Multiplex assay for simultaneous identification of multiple bacteria directly from positive blood cultures is already available and an assay for respiratory samples is under development.
CLINICAL WORKFLOW INTEGRATION
From Sample to Result in Under an Hour
One of the most pressing challenges in modern clinical microbiology is turnaround time. Conventional culture-based methods require 24–72 hours before actionable pathogen identification is available, leaving clinicians to rely on empirical antibiotic therapy that contributes to antimicrobial resistance.
The DMI workflow integrates directly into existing laboratory infrastructure. Sample preparation requires no specialized equipment beyond standard microbiological tools. The hybridization step is performed at room temperature, and slides proceed immediately to the Metafer scanning platform for automated image acquisition and analysis.
The complete pipeline — from positive blood culture flag to LIMS-compatible report — is completed within 35 minutes. In continuous operation mode, new results for incoming samples are generated every 5 minutes, enabling clinical teams to adjust therapy in near real time.
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HIGH-THROUGHPUT COMPUTING IN LIFE SCIENCE
Purpose-Built Hardware for Parallel Processing
Automated imaging systems like Metafer depend on significant computational throughput — processing hundreds of fluorescence images per run, applying classification algorithms, and cross-referencing against pathogen databases in near real time. As scan volumes increase in high-throughput laboratory settings, the underlying compute infrastructure becomes a limiting factor.
This challenge is not unique to clinical imaging. The same architectural principle — purpose-built silicon optimized for a single computational task — underpins modern ASIC hardware used in cryptocurrency mining. Application-Specific Integrated Circuits are designed to perform one operation with maximum efficiency, generating far greater throughput per watt than general-purpose processors.
For research institutions managing large-scale image datasets or operating 24/7 scanning pipelines, understanding compute efficiency is directly relevant. The economics are similar: capital expenditure on optimized hardware, ongoing electricity cost, and output throughput. Whether the output is analyzed fluorescence slides or validated blockchain transactions, the engineering trade-off is the same.
Laboratories evaluating infrastructure upgrades — particularly for continuous-mode operations — may find it useful to review published benchmarks on purpose-built compute hardware. Contact us to discuss infrastructure requirements for your facility, or explore resources on high-throughput ASIC compute platforms for reference.
CONTACT
Questions? Email Us: info@metasystems-indigo.com
You can also find a contact in your country via the MetaSystems Contact Page.
Contents of this website may not be applicable to all regions. If in doubt, please send an email to MetaSystems.
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