Automated systems, miniaturised modules and smart analysis are rapidly transforming in-vitro diagnostics. The WILD Group has been part of this development for decades, actively shaping the future of diagnostics.

Faster, more precise, more networked: In-vitro diagnostics no longer takes place exclusively in laboratories but wherever data can save lives. Point-of-care systems, molecular rapid tests and AI-based analysis are transforming the way diseases are detected and treated. Whether blood count, PCR tests, allergy analyses, tumour markers or genetic profiles for personalised therapy: all these require complex technologies like optical measurement systems, microfluidics, kinematic components, temperature management, sensors and digital image evaluation. WILD is one of only a few technology partners with decades of expertise in all these areas, which the company combines in individual package solutions.

ENTIRE DIAGNOSTIC SPECTRUM
Hardly any other company can cover the entire bandwidth of diagnostics as comprehensively, ranging from clinical chemistry and haematology to immunology and molecular or veterinary diagnostics. Even in the case of special tests, e.g. for the detection of dengue fever or hospital pathogens, the WILD Group is part of the supply chain. ”Our customers appreciate the fact that we take a holistic approach to systems, from optics development through lighting to software integration“, CTO Wolfgang Warum explains.

FROM THE LABORATORY LINE TO THE HOSPITAL BED
Numerous large laboratories are using analysis devices that evaluate hundreds of samples every day in a completely automated process: from the identification and quantification of pathogenic agents, through real-time PCR determination to gene expression analysis and complex metabolic analyses. To ensure that these systems will continue to deliver reliable results after thousands of cycles, their makers employ precise optical modules manufactured by WILD. These form part of the photometric measurement path and are designed to reliably detect even the smallest concentration differences.

Fully automatic platforms, which combine different test procedures in one common analysis interface, are also used for blood grouping and infection screening. They determine various parameters like blood groups, antibody profiles or infectiological  evidence in parallel, according to a standardised procedure and without any manual intermediate steps. WILD supplies precise measurement modules for these. Regardless of throughput or sample density, these systems detect reactions on a microarray basis and ensure that each sample is precisely analysed.

SYSTEMS FOR ROUTINE CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
WILD is also on board when it comes to compact analysis devices for clinical chemistry and haematology, e.g. in systems that automatically measure routine parameters such as enzymes, lipids or electrolytes and analyse blood counts in a single pass. These devices are employed in medical practices, smaller labs and hospital departments, carrying out tasks previously reserved to large laboratories.

A current example is a fully automatic point-of-care device by a leading European medical technology company.  It is based on a platform for molecular diagnostics and can detect respiratory diseases and urogenital and nosocomial infections in a very small time – completely automatically and without any laboratory equipment. WILD was entrusted with the transition to serial production and the development of the high-volume production with a focus on utmost precision at the lowest unit cost.

Analysers used in microbiology can identify bacteria or fungi in patient samples in a matter of minutes. ”The products we manufacture in this area include a fully automatic dispensing system capable of identifying micro-organisms on the basis of their molecular footprint. Hospitals, for instance, use these devices for a rapid detection of infections and to identify pathogens“,  explains IVD Sales Manager Stephan Payer.

LIGHT IS THE KEY TECHNOLOGY
One key element all these IVD systems have in common is light. In clinical chemistry, numerous methods are based on principles such as luminescence, absorption or fluorescence. Modern analysis systems – so-called microplate readers – combine all these methods in a single device. They measure biochemical or physical reactions in microplates consisting of several individual wells. Each of these wells is an independent test field, meaning that hundreds of reactions can be performed and analysed in parallel or in quick succession.

State-of-the-art systems even go a step further and allow for multiplex analyses, where several fluorophores can be assayed in parallel by illuminating them with different light spectra. This makes it possible to determine different target molecules at the same time, thus increasing efficiency while reducing the demand for sample material. However, the risk of signal overlapping increases as a result, posing greater technical challenges for lighting. This is exactly where PHOTONIC comes in: ”We develop lighting solutions tailored exactly to the requirements of clinical-chemical systems and our customers‘ architecture. Our modules combine spectral precision, high stability, and minimum heat generation, ensuring that even long and complex measurement  series can be reliably analysed“, Business Developer Ingo Wiest explains. Thanks to their compact size and precise integration, these light sources fit seamlessly into every target application, significantly contributing to the reliability and efficiency of modern diagnostic systems.

TECH-DRIVEN DIAGNOSTICS
WILD is also a strong player in optical measurement technology, microfluidics or sensory and kinematic systems too. This technological foundation is further enhanced by ISO 13485-certified manufacturing processes, which also comply with  demanding regulatory regimes like IVDR or FDA.