RNAscope is particularly suited for biomarker discovery and patient stratification studies, offering exceptional specificity and sensitivity compared with traditional ISH or immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques. It allows for the detection of low-abundance transcripts and can be applied where validated antibodies are not available or where post-translational regulation may obscure gene expression.
Within Epistem’s GCLP-accredited laboratory, RNAscope assays are performed on FFPE tissue and are fully automated using the Ventana Discovery Ultra platform. Multiplex labelling options allow for simultaneous detection of multiple targets, enabling spatial analysis and phenotyping within complex tissues.
Epistem provides end-to-end RNAscope assay development, validation, and analysis, either as a standalone service or integrated with our other service platforms. Our team has extensive experience in the design and validation of custom RNAscope® probes, image acquisition, and digital quantification using automated algorithms to ensure robust, reproducible results.
RNAscope results can be digitally captured using our Aperio ScanScope platform, with flexible options for quantitative analysis, image review, and generation of publication-ready images.
All work is conducted in compliance with GCLP standards and can support any stage of drug development, including clinical trial biomarker applications.
Analysis and Applications Include:
- Target validation and biomarker discovery
- Companion diagnostic development
- Gene expression profiling in tissue context
- Quantitative transcript analysis
- Spatial mapping and cell-type localisation
- Multiplex detection of multiple RNA targets
- Integration with IHC or IF for multi-modal assays