Uniogen and PerkinElmer have formalized an agreement for the use of Upconverting Nanoparticles (UCNPs) in food safety testing. Under the agreement, Uniogen will supply its proprietary Upcon® nanoparticles to be used as a key detection component in PerkinElmer lateral flow testing devices for food safety applications.

The nanoparticles provided by Uniogen serve as the signal generation system within the lateral flow assay, enabling highly sensitive and specific detection of foodborne pathogens and contaminants. The partnership aims to accelerate the development and deployment of easy-to-use, cost-effective testing kits that help food producers and processors ensure product safety and compliance.

“This agreement marks a notable milestone in the advancement of our technology licensing efforts,” says Ilari Antila, CEO of Uniogen Oy. “The integration of Uniogen Upcon nanoparticles into PerkinElmer lateral flow assays underscores the strong compatibility of our technology with user-friendly platforms that demand high sensitivity.”

Lateral flow tests are increasingly relied upon in the food industry to detect contaminants such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli at critical control points. Innovative tests developed by PerkinElmer utilizing the Upcon technology have significantly improved sensitivity and reduced likelihood of false negative results.

Uniogen

Uniogen is a Finnish frontrunner in diagnostics solutions and instrumentation for the biotechnology and life sciences industries. The company specializes in developing and manufacturing innovative diagnostic tests, assay components, and instruments, and serves as a trusted CDMO partner to several global corporations. The company is advancing biomarker-driven solutions for early cancer detection, led by a high-performance ovarian cancer assay and an expanding portfolio targeting multiple cancer types. This positions Uniogen at the forefront of next-generation diagnostics, where more accurate early detection is critical to improving patient outcomes.

Uniogen Upcon® technology is a first-of-a-kind complete solution for low-background applications. The technology enables reliable signal detection even through challenging matrices like tissue and whole blood, without interference from autofluorescence, and it can be integrated into a wide range of life science applications for significantly enhanced sensitivity.