P.O. Box 5982, Morogoro Road, near Dart Kisutu — City Centre, Dar es Salaam
NG Biotech
Model: NGB-MCR-S23-016
Lateral flow immunoassay for the rapid detection of the MCR-1 enzyme responsible for plasmid-mediated colistin (polymyxin E) resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, from a bacterial colony in under 15 minutes.
Colistin resistance detection
NG-TEST® MCR-1 is a qualitative lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of the MCR-1 enzyme — the plasmid-mediated mechanism behind colistin (polymyxin E) resistance — straight from a bacterial colony. When the last-resort antibiotic is on the table, the answer cannot wait days.
MCR-1
The enzyme detected — the first plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mechanism described
Plasmid-mediated
Carried on mobile genetic elements that spread between bacterial species
Gram-negative
Runs on pure colonies of Gram-negative bacteria from culture
Under 15 min
From colony to a visual result — no instrument or molecular platform
Why it matters
WHO list of critically important antimicrobials
WHO classifies polymyxins — the class that includes colistin — as highest-priority critically important antimicrobials for human medicine, reserved as a last-resort option against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections.
Read the sourceFirst description of mcr-1, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2016)
Researchers reported mcr-1 as the first plasmid-mediated colistin resistance mechanism in Enterobacterales — transferable between bacteria, unlike chromosomal resistance — prompting global surveillance of the gene.
Read the sourceWHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List, 2024
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Acinetobacter baumannii — the very infections for which colistin is often retained as a last-resort agent — sit in WHO's critical priority group.
Read the sourceGRAM analysis, published in The Lancet (2024)
The Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance study estimated 1.14 million deaths directly attributable to bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2021, projected to reach 1.91 million a year by 2050 on current trends.
Read the sourceWHO GLASS — Global AMR and Use Surveillance System
WHO states that national AMR surveillance depends on laboratories able to detect and characterise resistance mechanisms — including resistance to last-resort agents such as colistin.
Read the sourceWHO / Africa CDC on AMR surveillance capacity
Both organisations identify limited laboratory and diagnostic capacity as a central constraint on AMR surveillance and treatment decisions across Africa, and prioritise strengthening it at national and referral laboratory level.
Read the sourceSummaries of publicly available material from WHO, Africa CDC and peer-reviewed research, provided as background on antimicrobial resistance. They are not claims about this product and do not constitute an endorsement of any device by those organisations.
Workflow
Use a pure colony of a Gram-negative bacterium grown on culture medium.
Add the supplied buffer to the microtube, transfer the colonies with the loop or pipette provided and mix.
Transfer the suspension into the sample well of the single-use cassette. No calibration or reagent preparation.
Read the control and test lines visually — a positive line confirms the MCR-1 enzyme and flags colistin resistance.
Clinical value
Confirm or rule out MCR-1-mediated colistin resistance within the same shift, instead of waiting days on reference methods.
Colistin is retained for the most difficult Gram-negative infections — early detection of mcr-1 supports stewardship of this critical agent.
A positive MCR-1 result tells the clinical team colistin is unlikely to work and redirects therapy before treatment failure.
Because mcr-1 spreads on plasmids between bacteria, early identification of carriers supports isolation and cohorting decisions.
Fits any laboratory setting with minimal hands-on time — no analyser, service contract or molecular suite.
MCR-1 results feed hospital dashboards and GLASS-aligned national AMR reporting on last-resort resistance.
Good to know
At a glance
| Product | NG-TEST® MCR-1 (NG Biotech, France) |
|---|---|
| Reference | NGB-MCR-S23-016 — kit of 20 tests |
| Technology | Immunochromatographic lateral flow assay, visual read |
| Target | MCR-1 enzyme (plasmid-mediated colistin / polymyxin E resistance) |
| Sample type | Pure bacterial colonies of Gram-negative bacteria from culture |
| Time to result | Under 15 minutes; minimal hands-on time |
| Performance | Sensitivity 100%, specificity 98.3% (manufacturer data) |
| Kit contents | 20 cassettes, buffer, 20 microtubes, 20 pipettes |
| Equipment needed | None — no instrumentation, calibration or reagent preparation |
| Intended use | Rapid in vitro diagnostic, professional laboratory use only |
Specifications follow the manufacturer documentation. See the product labelling for the full instructions for use, warnings and limitations for your region.
Ordering
Each kit contains 20 single-use cassettes, buffer, 20 microtubes and 20 pipettes. Nothing else is needed to run the test.
Complete the picture
Colistin is usually considered when carbapenems and cephalosporins have already failed. Run NG-TEST CARBA-5 to identify carbapenemases and NG-TEST CTX-M Multi to identify ESBLs — together the three assays map the major resistance mechanisms in Gram-negative bacteria in minutes, and NG-TEST Blood Culture PREP brings all of them directly to positive blood cultures.
Where it fits
Screen for mcr-1 without a molecular platform or reference-lab turnaround.
Fast answers before colistin is considered for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections.
Early flagging of transferable colistin resistance to trigger precautions.
Consistent mcr-1 data for GLASS-aligned reporting on last-resort resistance.
One resistance pathway
These NG Biotech assays are designed to work together: prepare the sample straight from a positive blood culture, then detect ESBL, carbapenemase and colistin-resistance mechanisms in minutes — no molecular platform required.
CarbapenemasesDetects and differentiates the five major carbapenemase families — KPC, OXA-48-like, VIM, IMP and NDM — in under 15 minutes.
View product
ESBL enzymesIdentifies the five major CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamase groups from a colony or positive blood culture in under 15 minutes.
View product
Sample preparationTurns a positive blood culture into a test-ready sample in about 20 minutes, skipping the overnight subculture step.
View productSupplied and supported in Tanzania
Our team advises on kit volumes, delivery and laboratory implementation for the NG-TEST MCR-1 Rapid Colistin Resistance Detection Test.
Specifications
| Target | MCR-1 enzyme (plasmid-mediated colistin / polymyxin E resistance) |
|---|---|
| Ordering | Reference NGB-MCR-S23-016 — kit of 20 tests |
| Reference | NGB-MCR-S23-016 |
| Technology | Immunochromatographic lateral flow assay (visual read, no instrument) |
| Limitations | Detects the MCR-1 enzyme only — other mcr variants and resistance mechanisms are not covered; does not replace antimicrobial susceptibility testing |
| Sample type | Pure bacterial colonies of Gram-negative bacteria from culture |
| Sensitivity | 100% |
| Specificity | 98.3% |
| Intended use | Rapid in vitro diagnostic assay for professional laboratory use only |
| Kit contents | 20 cassettes, buffer, 20 microtubes, 20 pipettes |
| Manufacturer | NG Biotech, France |
| Hands-on time | Minimal hands-on time with a simple preparation protocol |
| Time to result | Less than 15 minutes |
| Instrumentation | None required — no analyser, calibration or reagent preparation |
Why Anudha
Sourced directly through our manufacturer partnerships and sole distributorships.
Our engineers advise on selection, installation and after-sales servicing.
Delivered to hospitals, clinics and laboratories across Tanzania and East Africa.
Trusted by healthcare facilities since 1992 for equipment and consumables.
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