Single molecule counting (SMC) technology is a new type of immunoassay platform that couples a biological sample with a series of polystyrene beads coated in antibodies. This combination is then exposed to a target antigen. After exposure, the number of unbound beads are counted, yielding a number that is inversely proportional to the amount of antigen, allowing physicians to form hypotheses about a patient’s risk factors for various diseases. One of the strongest applications of SMC technology is measuring cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) levels in order to rule out cardiac ischemia, thereby preventing the need for more expensive, and possibly unnecessary, testing.

Guido Baechler
CEO: Singulex