What’s High Throughput Screening?

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High-throughput screening (HTS) is the process of testing chemical compounds and other substances to observe their interaction with biological materials. Lab equipment can examine many different samples at once, with the goal of finding a reaction to study further. The ultimate goal is to use reactive compounds to discover drugs for various diseases and conditions. Radioactive equipment was used in the past to detect reactions, but fluorescent techniques and systems are also being used in the 21st century. Machines with higher capacities are also part of the process, so finding new drugs becomes a faster process.

The high-throughput screening process centers on testing procedures, called assays, that measure how chemicals and drugs interact with organic material. An often used test is a scintillation proximity test, which uses radiation to track the behavior of molecules. Another type, time-resolved fluorescence, uses fluorescent particles to label other molecules and monitor their activity during reactions. Fluorescence polarization detects the rotation of molecules exposed to polarized light, and if less motion occurs, the nature of a reaction can be measured.

A job involving compound assessment requires expertise in a variety of disciplines. Molecular biology education is essential because of the knowledge needed to understand chemical and biological reactions. An ability to use various types of instrumentation and an understanding of the analytical capability of computers are also required. Each process must be fully understood, and a researcher must also use his or her knowledge of the principles behind each.

Various types of tools are used in high throughput screening. Some can handle hundreds of thousands of tests every day. These tests sometimes produce useful results; other times the results of metabolic and toxicity tests help identify compounds for further study. The equipment includes readers capable of detecting radioactive or luminescent molecules and analysis machines capable of holding up to hundreds of samples at a time.

Compound evaluation is combined with finding a biological target for high-throughput screening. This can be a specific enzyme, a receptor or a chemical reaction that occurs in cells. Independent companies are often responsible for testing, while pharmaceutical companies typically work in partnership with them to develop drugs. Limitations of high-throughput screening include the expense of obtaining materials and equipment. The potential sale of new drugs, as well as the licensing of materials and procedures to other companies, helps make HTC a viable business.

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