Teiko Launches TokuTBNK

High-Precision Cytometry for PK/PD Readouts in Clinical Trials

TokuTBNK sets the new standard for stability and precision in PK/PD cytometry. Validation data show an average intra-run coefficient of variation (CV) of 6% and average inter-run CV of 9% across 22 immune cell populations. Using Cyto-Chex® BCT tubes for whole blood collection, samples remain stable for up to 7 days at ambient temperature, extending well beyond the 24–48-hour limit common in other CRO workflows.

Performed in Teiko’s CLIA-compliant laboratory, TokuTBNK enables standardized, scalable immune monitoring across global trial sites. The assay delivers consistent, submission-quality PK/PD data that support dose escalation, safety monitoring, and mechanism-of-action studies.

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Addressing Key Challenges in Cytometry

Cytometry provides a critical readout of how therapies affect the immune system, offering insight into drug mechanism, safety, and response. Conventional cytometry workflows, however, are hampered by short processing windows and inconsistent results.

• Short processing windows (24–72 hours): Delays can cause over 40% reductions in immune cell counts and disproportionate frequency shifts, introducing technical variability and obscuring true biology.
• Dependence on local labs: Trials require multiple specialised facilities, driving site-to-site variability.
• High data loss: Up to 20% of cytometry datasets are unusable due to sample instability and inconsistent handling.

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TokuTBNK solves these issues by enabling reproducible cytometry results from stabilized whole blood samples—supporting large, geographically distributed trials.

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The TokuTBNK Advantage

• 7-Day Sample Stability: Whole blood collected in Cyto-Chex® BCT tubes remains stable for up to 7 days.
• Accurate Absolute Cell Counts: Quantification using BD Trucount™ beads ensures precise measurement of immune cell frequencies and counts.
• High Precision: Average intra-run CV of 6% and inter-run CV of 9% across 22 immune cell populations.
  
  • Intra-run: All 22 immune cell populations < 30% CV.
  • Inter-run: 21 of 22 (95 %) < 30% CV.
• Global Scalability, No Local Labs Needed: Centralized cytometry eliminates site-to-site variability.
• Fast Turnaround: PK/PD results available within 3 days of sample receipt.‍
• Batch Processing Possible: Reduce sample-to-sample processing variability.

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Validation Data

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Whole blood collected in Cyto-Chex® BCT tubes from 3 healthy donors was analyzed on Days 0–7. Absolute counts for CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, B cells, NK cells, monocytes, and neutrophils varied minimally across donors, demonstrating consistent stability and recovery over time.

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Across 22 immune cell populations, average coefficients of variation were 6% (intra-run) and 9% (inter-run). All 22 populations fell below 30% CV within runs, and 95% (21 of 22) fell below 30% CV between runs. Dashed red lines indicate the 30% CV benchmark for cytometry reproducibility.

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How It Works

Blood is collected into Cyto-Chex® BCT tubes at clinical sites, shipped at room temperature, and processed at Teiko’s CLIA-compliant laboratory. 

Each sample is stained with a 15-color pan-leukocyte panel to quantify 20+ immune cell populations—including T, B, and NK cells, monocytes, and neutrophils. 

Data are analyzed using standardized templates and delivered through Teiko’s Cytometry Dashboard with visualization and AI-assisted analytics.

“Our goal is to make reliable immune profiling simple and achievable for every clinical trial. By extending sample stability and improving assay precision, TokuTBNK enables translational teams to make faster, more confident decisions about drug activity and safety in their clinical trials.” —  Li-Chun Cheng, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Teiko. 

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About Teiko

At Teiko, our mission is simple: to make cytometry simple—reproducible, reliable, and consistent.

We’re addressing every challenge in clinical trial cytometry—from sample collection to analysis—so translational and clinical teams can generate high-quality immune data at scale.