On June 17, our Leipzig team hit the starting line for the annual Leipzig Company Run, and what a great evening it was!

Together with more than 22,000 participants, we joined one of Germany’s largest corporate running events, taking on the 4.9 km course through Leipzig alongside colleagues from hundreds of local companies. This company run is a fantastic opportunity to promote health and wellbeing, strengthen team spirit, and connect with the local business community, all while having a lot of fun. 🎉
After crossing the finish line, we celebrated together with well-earned food, drinks, and plenty of smiles. 💪

Already looking forward to next year’s run!

Check out our open positions to be part of the team!

Simple and smart next-level PRRSV vaccine monitoring is here.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) inflicts severe economic damage on the pork industry every year; causing respiratory illness in piglets and reproductive failure in sows. Early detection and targeted control are essential.

At INDICAL, we’re excited to launch the innovative virotype PRRSV EU Vax RT-PCR Kit, for detection and differentiation of major PRRSV-1 vaccines in a fast, accurate and cost-effective manner. Used in combination with the virotype PRRSV 2.0 RT-PCR Kit, it delivers a smarter way to DIVA and confirm vaccination status, saving time and money in the lab and supporting confident herd health decisions.

Learn more about the product here.

Developing a next-generation DNA/RNA extraction system takes more than just great engineering. It takes listening to real lab challenges and designing solutions that truly fit. That’s exactly what went into the creation of IndiMag 2, INDICAL’s latest magnetic bead-based system for high-quality DNA and RNA extraction.

We spoke with Dr. Ansgar Flammersfeld, Global Product Manager at INDICAL, to learn more about what sets IndiMag 2 apart, why flexibility was a top priority, and how this system is helping labs work more efficiently than ever.

Q: What inspired the development of IndiMag 2, and how does it improve upon other lab extraction systems?

We understood that labs today face increasing pressure to work faster, more accurately, and with greater flexibility. IndiMag 2 was inspired by the need for a solution that doesn’t just simplify nucleic acid extraction, but also integrates seamlessly into labs’ unique workflows. We listened to our users’ needs and the result is a system that adapts to their protocols, whether they’re using our prefilled cartridges or their own reagents.

We designed IndiMag 2 to support both ready-made and custom protocols, giving labs the freedom to streamline processes without sacrificing performance. With its versatile functionality, improved throughput, and streamlined integration, it makes nucleic acid extraction faster, more reliable, and easier to handle day-to-day.

Q: What are your personal favorite features of IndiMag 2, and why do you think they matter to users?

Honestly, it’s not just one feature—it’s how everything comes together that makes IndiMag 2 such a great fit for molecular labs. The system is really designed to meet the practical needs of users, and it shows in the details.

If I had to pick, I’d say one thing I really love is the design—especially the color and the LED status light. It might sound simple, but it actually brings some color and life into labs. In an environment that’s typically pretty sterile and monochrome, that touch of design makes a surprising difference.

Another big plus is the flexibility of the plastic consumables. They’re designed to adapt to different protocols and specific lab needs, which makes the system really versatile. For example, the direct storable elution tubes: You don’t need to transfer the eluate to another tube after the extraction. That saves time and reduces the risk of errors or contamination from extra pipetting steps—and it also means less plastic waste.

Q: How do the prefilled cartridges complement the IndiMag 2 system, and what advantages do they offer for lab workflows?

Our prefilled cartridges are preloaded, sealed plastic units that contain all the necessary reagents for a complete extraction run. You simply load them into the instrument, and you’re ready to go—no need for manual reagent handling. They’re a perfect match for IndiMag 2. They significantly reduce preparation time and ensure consistency across runs, which is especially important in high-throughput settings. By minimizing manual steps, they help lower the risk of errors and improve overall efficiency. For labs looking to optimize resources, they also help reduce plastic waste and simplify logistics, since the reagents are already preloaded and quality-controlled.

Q: What types of labs or diagnostic settings benefit most from using IndiMag 2, and how can it help them streamline their workflows?

While IndiMag 2 is a great fit for veterinary diagnostics, it’s by no means limited to that field. It’s a versatile DNA/RNA extraction instrument that can support a wide range of applications, from veterinary and food safety testing to broader molecular diagnostics and research. Any lab that needs consistent, high-quality nucleic acid extraction can benefit from IndiMag 2. Its flexibility, ease of use, and ability to handle both ready-to-run and custom protocols can really help streamline workflows across diverse lab environments.


DISCOVER INDIMAG 2

Ce webinaire en direct est proposé par INDICAL BIOSCIENCE et s’adresse aux vétérinaires, ASV et étudiants vétérinaires. Nos experts vous parlerons de :

  1. La gestion de l’infestation par des parasites digestifs de manière raisonnée chez les animaux de compagnie
  2. Les consignes et recommandations de l’ESCCAP (European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites)
  3. Les conseils pratiques pour un diagnostic et une prévention réussis
  4. Les recommandations, les bonnes pratiques et l’aide à l’interprétation des résultats coproscopiques pour la mise en place d’un traitement adapté
  5. Une solution de diagnostic innovante pour les cliniques vétérinaires : présentation et utilisation de l’OvaCyte Pet

En bonus :

  • Un temps d’échange en direct est prévu : posez toutes vos questions aux experts pendant la session de questions-réponses.
  • Assurez-vous de rester jusqu’à la fin du webinaire pour bénéficier de notre offre exclusive réservée aux participants.
  • Pas disponible le 17 juin à 13h ? Inscrivez-vous quand même pour recevoir l’accès au replay !

Bénéficiez de l’expertise de nos intervenants :

Jacques Guillot, PhD, DipEBVS en parasitologie vétérinaire, Enseignant-chercheur en parasitologie et maladies parasitaires, Oniris VetAgroBio, Nantes

Marie-Pierre Callait-Cardinal, PhD, DipEBVS en parasitologie vétérinaire
Enseignante-chercheuse en  parasitologie et maladies parasitaires,  VetAgro Sup, Lyon


INSCRIPTION

Join Dr. Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, an award-winning veterinarian and educator, as she dives into revolutionary parasite diagnostics and the transformative role of AI in the field. 

This INDICAL-sponsored course covers:

  • The limitations of traditional fecal testing
  • How AI improves parasite diagnostics and parasite prevention
  • Ways AI fecal technology can boost efficiency, improve workflows, save time and money.

The course is RACE-approved and offers 0.50 CE credit hour.

Speaker:

Dr. Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ is an internationally renowned and award-winning veterinarian, educator and the co-founder of Top Vets Talk Pets. After running the largest small animal practice in Chicago for over 10 years, Dr. Marks is dedicated to helping pet owners and veterinarians work as a team to ensure the health and happiness of our beloved furry family members.

Register here to gain access to the course.

Meet Daland C. Herrmann, the Senior Scientist behind the development of our newest innovation, the virotype IHNV/VHSV PT-PCR Kit! This triplex real-time RT-PCR Kit enables the simultaneous detection of RNA from both Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV) and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicaemia Virus (VHSV), two of the most significant pathogens affecting salmonid populations. This assay offers high sensitivity and specificity with a fast run time and easy-to-use format. It is also the first and only multiplex IHNV/VHSV RT-PCR Kit approved in Germany by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI-C 133).

Q: What inspired the development of the virotype IHNV/VHSV RT-PCR Kit?

The lack of standardized, approved multiplex detection kits for IHNV and VHSV in Germany, along with recent outbreaks causing significant losses in regional fish populations and the resulting economic impact on farmers have led INDICAL BIOSCIENCE to develop this kit.

Q: How does the virotype IHNV/VHSV RT-PCR Kit address the key challenges in detecting these pathogens?

Since IHNV cannot be distinguished from VHSV based on pathological findings, molecular detection through real-time RT-PCR is key. Both viruses cause notifiable fish diseases and must be tested for in the EU. With the new multiplex real-time
RT-PCR kit, lab testing for both viral pathogens can be performed in one run, which significantly reduces the time between detection and taking appropriate measures.

FQ: What advantages does this test offer to laboratories and fish farms compared to traditional methods?

It is the first multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay for detecting and differentiating IHNV and VHSV in one run, approved by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut in Germany. It is commercially produced by INDICAL BIOSCIENCE ensuring high quality throughout its production lifecycle. There is no need for testing labs to establish QC procedures for in-house testing. Simultaneous testing for both pathogens allow labs to better streamline fish pathogens testing and thus speed up the reporting time to farmers. Additionally, using the virotype IHNV/VHSV RT-PCR kit reduces preparation and hands-on time compared to in-house testing methods.

Q: How do you see the virotype IHNV/VHSV RT-PCR Kit contributing to the health of salmonids populations and the sustainability of the fish farming industry?

Early pathogen detection reduces the risk of introducing contaminated fish stocks or spreading the pathogens from one farm or pond to another. Continuous fish stocks surveillance improves salmonid health and fish farm productivity. By reducing the risk of infection and future outbreaks, fish farms contribute to a more sustainable supply of fish to consumers.


GO TO PRODUCT

Everyone knows how challenging the last 2 years have been, as we navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. So, reuniting almost all our ‘flamingos’ – from around 20 countries – was really something to celebrate. That and the 4th anniversary of INDICAL BIOSCIENCE, which we marked with a big summer party!

Our main event was held at the Rennbahn Scheibenholz – Leipzig’s oldest sports facility that is still in use today. In the course of its long history, the venue has brought together countless people from different nations to meet, compete and have fun. So, it felt natural to hold part of our celebration there.

It was a wonderful day, filled with positive energy and fun. Our flamingos showed they have many hidden talents and we created so many great moments together, including team dragon boat sprints on the nearby Elster and Pleiße rivers, table tennis, team games and dancing at Scheibenholz.

We were delighted to be joined by Fredrik Ullman, Group CEO at Vimian and Stefano Santarelli, CEO of INDICAL who thanked colleagues from all our sites and departments for being part of the incredible INDICAL journey.

With such great spirit and energy, we know our mission to continually improve veterinary diagnostics for better animal and human health is in safe hands.

Fancy being an INDICAL flamingo?
Open positions in our incredible teams can be found here.

Watch the full webinar – including Q&A – here

The latest in INDICAL’s series of education webinars covered the features and benefits of INDICAL’s IndiMag 48s instrument and prefilled cartridges and included a detailed video demonstration of the technology – from unpacking the instrument right through to completion of sample extraction.

User-friendly system

The IndiMag 48s has a compact footprint, ideal for many laboratories. Its user-friendly interface and open system mean that it comes preloaded with INDICAL extraction protocols but is flexible enough for users to develop their own protocols too. Cross-contamination can also be an issue in laboratories, which is why the IndiMag 48s comes fitted with a UV sterilization lamp, so you can be sure of complete decontamination.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of the IndiMag 48s is its compatibility with modular plastics. These come in three formats: single samples, 8 samples or 24 samples. Flexible plastics help minimize waste and help labs save on costs. For example, extracting 8 samples on a 96-well system uses multiple deep-well blocks, but on the IndiMag 48s, it’s just one 8-sample cartridge.

Publications

The IndiMag 48s and prefilled cartridges have been featured in many publications, covering diverse pathogens including African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), myxoma virus, Mycoplasma bovis, porcine rotavirus A, and Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV). Several of these were highlighted, including:

Expert tips

INDICAL’s experts answered some frequently encountered questions.
Will increasing my sample always improve my yield of nucleic acid? No, because the extraction system is optimized for a particular sample amount.
Adding more sample will often mean less DNA, as the chemistry is saturated and becomes less efficient.

Will increasing the volume of magnetic beads improve my yield of nucleic acid? Generally, no, again because the chemistry is optimized.

How will reducing my elution buffer effect the yield of nucleic acid? Volumes
are optimized for beads and buffer and while you may be able to decrease the
volume of elution buffer, you need to ensure that all the magnetic beads are in
contact with the buffer, so a decrease in elution volume may be counterproductive.

How will heating, mechanical, enzymatic, and chemical lysis affect my yield of nucleic acid? Having all these together is generally not beneficial, but some may be combined into the extraction process, depending on the starting sample and pathogen type. Again, less is always more when considering the extraction process. If the chemistry is good enough, you don’t need to do too much and may damage the nucleic acid.

Can I treat all sample types in the same way? The short answer is ‘no’. INDICAL’s R&D group have extensive expertise in dealing with challenging sample types and optimizing the nucleic acid extraction process. If you need support with demanding extractions, don’t hesitate to get in touch for support.

Audience Q&A

 

Can the instrument be used to extract high-molecular-weight DNA for long read sequencing? The IndiMag Pathogen Kit can be used for different genomic applications with customer-specific protocols and the IndiMag 48s has been successfully used for this application.

Is there a specific way to place the single sample block into the IndiMag 48s? Yes, there are marks, an arrow and a notch that guides how to insert the
block into the instrument correctly.

Is there a performance difference between bottled and prefilled reagents? During development of the prefilled cartridges, we carried out extensive comparisons between the manual pathogen kits and prefilled cartridges using different sample types and different pathogens. We found no significant differences between the two methods.

How complicated is it to enter your own protocols to the IndiMag 48s? It is not complicated at all. The easiest way is to fill out a text file with all the parameters and upload that to the instrument via a memory stick. You can also do it directly on the instrument.

Discover the benefits of IndiMag 48s and prefilled cartridges for yourself.

Watch the full webinar – including Q&A – here:


Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is economically one of the most important viral infectious diseases of swine. CSF is widespread in domestic pig and wild boar populations. CSF is an internationally notifiable animal disease. The causative agent, Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV), is a single-stranded RNA virus and a member of the genus pestivirus which belongs to the Flaviviridae family like Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in cattle and Border Disease Virus in Sheep.

Air sampling – using AeroCollect® technology – offers new capabilities for rapid and efficient surveillance testing without compromising animal welfare. With the AeroCollect device, there is no invasive sampling involved. You simply walk around the farm, poultry or pig house holding the device. The device samples the entire flock or herd, capturing and retaining any bacteria or viruses from the air in minutes.

AeroCollect works with just three simple steps

  1. Walk the area to be sampled for 5 mins. The AeroCollect captures airborne bacteria and viruses from dust, water and cells.
  2. Send the sample to the laboratory for qPCR testing. No sample extraction is needed; the sample is flushed directly from the chamber. INDICAL reagents and buffers are validated for this step, although other reagents are compatible.
  3. Same-day qPCR results, usually within a few hours giving vets and farmers rapid, actionable results.

Early detection is enabled with AeroCollect

You can detect an outbreak as soon as the animal starts shedding the bacteria or virus, typically 1–2 weeks before conventional screening would detect it. The table
shows the pathogens currently detected with AeroCollect technology.

Pathogens detected by AeroCollect

Poultry

Salmonella spp.

Campylobacter spp.

Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV)

Gumboro Disease (Infectious Bursal Disease; IBD)

Adenovirus

E. coli

Marek’s Disease

Avian Reovirus

Staphylococcus spp.

Turkey Rhinotracheitis (TRT) Virus

Pasteurella spp.

Chicken Astro Virus

Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE)

Mycoplasma spp.

Avian Influenza Virus (AIV)

C. perfringens

Swine

Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (APP)

Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2)

African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV)

Swine Influenza Virus

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRSV)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

E. coli (F4 and F18)

Mycoplasma hypopneumoniae

Validation data Future outlook for air sampling

The webinar presented validation data for Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., IBV, Gumboro, APP, Swine Influenza Virus. For all pathogens:

  • AeroCollect showed very good agreement when compared with the gold-standard method (boot swab analysis) and near-perfect agreement when compared to true results.
  • AeroCollect technology can detect an emerging infection 2–4 days earlier than boot swabs.
  • AeroCollect enables closer monitoring of (for example) Salmonella outbreaks in flocks, potentially saving effort and costs that may be incurred from contaminated slaughter lines, or worse, product recalls.

Future outlook for air sampling

Field studies are still ongoing in:

  • Monitoring applications for PRRSV, M. hypopneumoniae, APP and SIV
  • Monitoring and detection of PRRSV in infection studies
  • Monitoring and detection of ASFV

INDICAL and AeroCollect are also working towards defining the best-practice framework for implementation on poultry farms.

The AeroCollect device has many more potential applications in animals, including in cattle, racehorses and game birds and several new studies are planned. Utility in human applications may also follow in the future.

Watch the full webinar – including Q&A – herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNlyP3ogI8oTo learn more about the AeroCollect device or request a quote, visit:
https://shop.indical.com/en/instruments-and-plastics/aerocollect/