What Isohelix does

Isohelix, a trading division of UK private limited company Cell Projects Ltd (incorporated in England and Wales, company number 4619162), manufactures DNA and RNA collection, stabilization, and isolation products for genomics research and clinical applications. Founded over 15 years ago and headquartered in Harrietsham, Kent, the company operates a portfolio built around two primary sample collection modalities: saliva-based collection via the GeneFix product family (GFX-01/02/03 in 1-3ml volumes, GFXH automation-optimized variants, plus RFX for RNA, MFX for microbiome, and GFXA for assisted collection) and SaliFix swab-based saliva kits; and buccal swab collection via the SK series and MS mini swabs. Its core technical differentiator is a proprietary guanidinium-free, non-toxic stabilization chemistry that preserves DNA integrity at room temperature for up to 60 months (saliva) and 24 months (buccal swabs), eliminating cold chain logistics. Downstream processing is supported by a full extraction kit line spanning precipitation (Saliva-Prep 2, BuccalPrep Plus), silica spin column (Xtreme), magnetic bead (Saliva-Mag, Buccal-Mag), and direct-to-PCR (Salivalyse, Buccalyse) chemistries, plus accessories for transport and sample tracking.

The business model is direct B2B sales of consumable kits, priced on a quote basis (no public pricing) in pack sizes of 2, 12, or 50 units, with payment terms of prepayment or net-30 for approved accounts. Distribution is global via the company website and direct sales engagement, with worldwide delivery supported by UN3373-compliant transport packaging. Customer base is horizontally segmented across academic research institutions, clinical and healthcare research organizations, animal genetics and conservation programs, forensic and diagnostic laboratories, and direct-to-consumer genetics companies. Manufacturing is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certified, positioning products for both research and regulated clinical use. Revenue is generated entirely from one-time consumable sales with no subscription or licensing model evidenced.

Name

Isohelix

Legal name

Cell Projects Ltd

Website

https://isohelix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Isohelix, a UK division of Cell Projects Ltd, manufactures proprietary DNA/RNA saliva and buccal swab collection kits with room-temperature stabilization chemistry, selling consumables globally to academic researchers, clinical genomics programs, and conservation genetics organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Consumables / DNA & RNA Sample Collection Products

NAICS

In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Sample Collection, Stabilization & Pre-Analytics (biobanking, transport media, extraction kits) (HLAAALAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats) (HLAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• DNA collection kits
• RNA stabilization products
• Saliva collection devices
• Buccal swab systems
• Nucleic acid isolation

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrietsham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. DNA/RNA Collection Kit Sales: Sale of DNA and RNA collection devices including GeneFix saliva collectors (GFX-01, GFX-02, GFX-03, GFXA), buccal swabs (SK-1S, SK-2S, SK-3S/4S, MS series), and specialized collectors (MFX microbiome, RFX RNA). These are one-time purchase consumable products sold in various pack sizes.
2. DNA/RNA Extraction Kit Sales: Sale of extraction and isolation kits including Saliva-Prep 2 (GSPN), Xtreme (XME), Saliva-Mag (GSM), Salivalyse (SEK), BuccalPrep Plus (BPP), BuccalMag (BMG), Buccalyse (BEK), and BuccalFix Plus (BFP). Products sold as one-time-use consumables in various kit sizes.
3. Stabilization and Accessory Products: Sale of stabilization reagents (BuccalFix, SaliFix, StoolFix), desiccation products (Dri-Capsules, Rapi-Dri), transport packs, mailing boxes, barcodes, and Proteinase K. Consumable products that complement the collection and extraction workflow.
4. Automation-Compatible Products (GFXH): High-throughput automation-friendly products (GFXH series) designed for integration with automated de-capping machines and existing racking systems. These products serve large biobanking operations and high-volume laboratory workflows.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Isohelix manufactures and sells DNA and RNA collection, stabilization, and isolation products for genomic research, clinical, and biobanking applications. Its portfolio centers on saliva collection devices (GeneFix, SaliFix) and buccal swabs, paired with stabilization buffers and extraction kits that preserve nucleic acids at room temperature for up to 60 months. The company also offers direct-to-PCR kits, cleanup kits, microbiome collection consumables (MFX, StoolFix), and shipping accessories for global sample transport.

Product overview

Isohelix is a division of Cell Projects Ltd offering a comprehensive portfolio of DNA and RNA sample collection, stabilization, and isolation products. The product ecosystem centers on two primary sample collection approaches: saliva-based collection using the GeneFix and SaliFix product families, and buccal swab collection using the Isohelix buccal swab line. GeneFix saliva collectors (GFX-01/02/03, GFXH automation variants, RFX, MFX, GFXA) provide 1-3ml collection volumes with stabilization buffers enabling room temperature storage for up to 60 months. SaliFix offers swab-based saliva collection using SwabCatcher technology. Buccal swabs (SK-1S/2S/3S/4S, MS mini swabs, RapiDri) work with stabilization products including BuccalFix and Dri-Capsules for ambient temperature preservation. Downstream processing includes specialized extraction kits: precipitation methods (Saliva-Prep 2/GSPN, BuccalPrep Plus/BPP), magnetic bead formats (Saliva-Mag/GSM, Buccal-Mag/BMG), silica columns (Xtreme/XME), and direct-to-PCR solutions (Salivalyse/SEK, Buccalyse/BEK). Supporting products include the StoolFix microbiome stabilization kit, Mag-Filter HMW cleanup, DNA CleanUp/DC kits, and accessories including barcodes, mailing boxes, and transport packs. All products are ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GeneFix: GeneFix is a brand of saliva DNA/RNA collection and stabilization devices, including GFX, MFX, RFX product lines.
• SaliFix
• BuccalFix
• SwabCatcher
• Dri-Capsules
• RapiDri

Products and services

• GeneFix Saliva DNA/RNA Collectors (GFX family — GFX-01, GFX-02, GFX-03) Saliva collection and stabilization devices available in 1ml, 2ml, and 3ml volumes, used by research and clinical labs to capture and stabilize DNA and RNA at room temperature for downstream genomics applications.
• GeneFix Saliva DNA/RNA Collector GFXH (Automation) High-throughput variant of the GeneFix saliva collector, available in 1–3ml formats, designed to integrate with automated de-capping machines and existing racking systems for biobanking and large-scale genomics operations.
• GeneFix Assisted Saliva DNA/RNA Collector GFXA Assisted-collection variant of the GeneFix saliva collector, supplied with swabs and instructions, intended for users who cannot easily provide an unassisted saliva sample (e.g., elderly, pediatric, or clinical populations).
• GeneFix Saliva RNA Collector RFX Saliva collection device specifically optimized to stabilize RNA at room temperature for extended periods without freezing, for gene expression and transcriptomics studies.
• GeneFix Saliva Microbiome DNA Collector MFX Saliva collector optimized to capture and stabilize oral microbiome DNA at room temperature for over 12 months, used in microbiome and metagenomics research.
• SaliFix Saliva DNA/RNA Collection Kit Swab-based saliva collection kit using SwabCatcher tubes prefilled with SaliFix buffer, designed for rapid stabilization of nucleic acids in low-volume saliva swab samples.
• Isohelix DNA/RNA Buccal Swabs (SK and MS series) Buccal swab family (SK-1S, SK-2S with release cap, SK-3S/4S standard/dual formats, and MS-01/02/03 mini swabs at 6mm width) using Isohelix's high-yielding quick-release swab matrix, for human, animal, veterinary, and field DNA/RNA collection.
• Isohelix RapiDri Swab Kits (RD-01) Integrated buccal swab kit paired with a quick-drying pouch containing a desiccant matrix that rapidly removes water and stabilizes DNA, enabling dry ambient-temperature storage and transport even in hot or humid environments.
• SwabCatcher DNA/RNA Collection Tubes and Caps Collection tubes with a unique cap mechanism that automatically ejects the swab head from the tube after lysis, simplifying sample processing and minimizing cross-contamination in manual or automated extraction workflows.
• Saliva-Prep 2 DNA Isolation Kit (GSPN) Precipitation-based DNA isolation kit designed specifically for GeneFix saliva samples, delivering over 100µg of high-purity DNA from 2ml of saliva for demanding downstream applications.
• Isohelix Xtreme DNA Isolation Kit (XME) Silica-based spin column DNA isolation kit optimized for both saliva and buccal samples, delivering high-purity genomic DNA free from PCR inhibitors for long-read sequencing and other demanding applications.
• GeneFix Saliva-Mag DNA Isolation Kit (GSM) Magnetic bead-based, high-throughput DNA purification kit with high binding capacity, developed specifically for GeneFix saliva samples with variable volumes to maximize yields.
• GeneFix Salivalyse Direct-to-PCR Kit (SEK) Single-tube direct-to-PCR DNA release kit for GeneFix-stabilized saliva samples, enabling rapid preparation for time-sensitive studies without a separate extraction step.
• Isohelix BuccalPrep Plus DNA Isolation Kit (BPP) Precipitation-based DNA isolation kit for buccal swabs, using the latest Isohelix chemistry to deliver high yields, high purity, and negligible RNA co-elution.
• Isohelix Buccal-Mag DNA Isolation Kit (BMG) Magnetic bead-based kit for medium- to high-throughput purification of DNA from buccal swabs, delivering high purity and yield.
• Isohelix BuccalFix Plus DNA Isolation Kit (BFP) DNA isolation kit specifically designed for buccal swabs already stored in BuccalFix stabilization buffer, scalable across volumes with extremely high DNA yields.
• Isohelix Buccalyse Direct-to-PCR Kit (BEK) One-tube direct-to-PCR kit for buccal swabs that delivers PCR-ready DNA in under 20 minutes via a simple heat treatment (70°C for 15 minutes, 95°C for 2 minutes), ideal for qPCR and high-throughput genotyping.
• Isohelix BuccalFix DNA Stabilization Buffer (BFX) Stabilization buffer for buccal swabs that enables long-term DNA storage at room temperature for up to 2 years, maintaining structural integrity for downstream applications.
• Isohelix Dri-Capsules (SGC) Silica gel desiccation capsules placed in buccal swab collection tubes to absorb moisture and maintain DNA integrity for up to 3 years at room temperature; non-toxic and inert coating makes them easy to handle in field and remote collection.
• StoolFix Gut Microbiome DNA Stabilization Kit Stabilization buffer kit for stool and fecal sample collection that preserves microbial DNA for up to 2 months at room temperature for gut microbiome research.
• Isohelix Mag-Filter HMW CleanUp Kit Magnetic bead-based cleanup kit that preserves high molecular weight DNA integrity and scales across different throughput levels for long-read sequencing and similar applications.
• Isohelix DNA CleanUp Kit (DCU) Secondary DNA isolation and cleanup protocol that further improves DNA purity from samples already processed with primary Isohelix isolation kits.
• Isohelix Proteinase K Proteinase K enzyme accessory used in Isohelix DNA extraction workflows to facilitate protein digestion during sample processing.
• Isohelix Transport Packs and Mailing Boxes UN3373-compliant 95kPa transport packaging and mailing boxes for saliva and swab samples, including absorbent pads for leak containment; available in standard and GeneFix-specific variants for global sample shipment.
• Isohelix Barcodes Barcode labeling system for sample tracking and identification across Isohelix collection and processing workflows.

Quantifiable outcome

• DNA stability maintained for over 5 years (60 months) at room temperature for saliva samples
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IlluminacoreTechnology or IntegrationIsohelix GeneFix products have been validated and optimized for use with Illumina sequencing platforms. Application notes document successful use of GeneFix-collected samples with Illumina technologies, ensuring compatibility for next-generation sequencing workflows.
• Promega (Maxwell)coreTechnology or IntegrationIsohelix GeneFix saliva samples are validated for DNA extraction using the Promega Maxwell system, enabling automated high-throughput processing of collected samples with established compatibility protocols.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DNA Genotek (OraSure Technologies): DNA Genotek, a subsidiary of OraSure Technologies, is the most direct competitor to Isohelix. They sell the Oragene product family of saliva-based DNA/RNA collection and stabilization kits, targeting the same research, biobank, and clinical customers with overlapping room-temperature stabilization claims.
• Zymo Research: Zymo Research offers DNA/RNA extraction kits and sample collection devices, including saliva and swab-based stabilization products. They overlap with Isohelix in extraction chemistry and several collection formats, with strong e-commerce distribution to academic researchers.
• Norgen Biotek: Norgen Biotek specializes in sample collection, preservation, and DNA/RNA purification kits for saliva, swab, stool, and other sample types. They compete head-to-head with Isohelix in the same research and biobank segments with catalog-based e-commerce.
• COPAN Diagnostics: COPAN is a global leader in flocked swabs and sample collection systems used in clinical, forensic, and research applications. They compete with Isohelix's buccal swab product line and serve overlapping molecular diagnostics and biobank customers.
• Sarstedt: Sarstedt manufactures a wide range of sample collection tubes, swabs, and consumables used in research and clinical labs. They are a relevant peer for Isohelix's collection devices and tube systems, with strong European distribution overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Qiagen: Qiagen is a global life sciences tools incumbent with sample collection, stabilization, and DNA/RNA extraction products (e.g., QIAamp, PAXgene). They compete with Isohelix in research and clinical sample preparation, but from a much broader portfolio perspective.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher supplies a broad portfolio of lab consumables, sample collection products, and nucleic acid extraction kits that overlap with Isohelix. As a broad incumbent, they compete through scale, distribution, and bundling rather than specialization in saliva/buccal collection.
• PerkinElmer (Revvity): Revvity (formerly PerkinElmer) provides life sciences reagents, sample collection, and diagnostic products including nucleic acid extraction and stabilization technologies. They compete with Isohelix in research and clinical genomics workflows as a broad incumbent.
• Abbott Molecular: Abbott, following its Alere acquisition, offers diagnostics and sample-to-answer molecular testing platforms. While not a direct saliva-collection specialist, Abbott competes with Isohelix in the broader clinical molecular diagnostics and biobanking sample collection value chain.

Emerging players

• Streck: Streck develops molecular and clinical sample collection, stabilization, and processing products. They overlap with Isohelix in stabilization chemistry and clinical/forensic sample workflows but focus more on blood-based collection and IVD applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/isohelix
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCf_N1TxOy1lqJqj31xOxHGA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Isohelix-1747654555558592
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isohelix

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Isohelix