Location
Gallus is located in rural southern Ontario within the Golden Triangle. For US custom purposes, we also maintain an office in the United States (North Carolina).

How we got started
gallus-aboutDr. Kelsye Coulter, a trained immunologist and co-founder of Gallus Immunotech, learned about immunizing chickens from a colleague when she had to generate a polyclonal antibody for her research. The colleague explained that the chicken antibody (IgY) could easily be retrieved from the egg yolk in large quantities, making it unnecessary to bleed the animal. An animal lover at heart, Kelsye was immediately intrigued with the possibilities of harvesting polyclonal antibodies from eggs.

Kelsye soon discovered that this was not the only remarkable feature of using chicken IgY antibodies – there are many advantages. The idea for Gallus Immunotech was born and a few years later, in 1994, began as a business. We were one of the first North American companies to specialize in chicken antibodies, at a time when most researchers in the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries had never heard of IgY.

Our Eggspertise
Beginning as a 'fledgling' in this new commercial field, Gallus Immunotech has matured into a business with world-class IgY expertise and a world-wide customer base.

Early on, we commercialized our proprietary IgY Eggspress Purification Kit in collaboration with a Canadian scientist whose PhD thesis subject was the efficient purification of IgY from egg yolk. Our purification kit boasts a high IgY yield (app. 6-7 mg IgY/gram yolk) and is very easy to use.

We strive to deliver high quality chicken antibodies in milligram quantities for the researcher or up to kilogram quantities for diagnostic or industrial use. All laboratory work is performed using standard operating procedures to assure the highest quality of our products. With our experienced scientists on hand to discuss small or large projects, we pride ourselves in providing personable service and attention to detail. Ask us about 'commercializing' your custom IgY – we'll post it on our website and share the revenue.

Chickens are the Humane Alternative
An important aspect of our business has been to promote the humane alternative of using chickens to produce polyclonal antibodies. To this end, we house our chickens in very pleasant and as natural as possible surroundings. Our chickens enjoy nesting boxes, roosting sticks, dry baths (woodchips or sand) and outside runs when the weather permits. Our animal facilities are inspected and accredited under the Ontario Animals for Research Act licence #0028, which is overseen by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.