World's First Reusable Biochip Architecture Designed

The world's first reusable biochip architecture has been developed for the commercial market. These reusable integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) will dramatically lower single nucleotide phenotype (SNP) genotyping costs and are designed to support accelerated sample throughput, while maintaining data quality of 99.75% or greater accuracy and 99% or greater call rates.

Fluidigm Corp. (South San Francisco, CA, USA) initially invented this architecture to support a progressive new program driven by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS; Washington, DC, USA), the chief scientific research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program's goal is to drive high sample throughput genotyping down to a penny-per-data-point, which would enable widespread adoption of genetic analysis in vegetable and fruit seeds, livestock (such as cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry), and fishery management. This will significantly improve the quality and quantity of the food supply, while lowering production costs.

Fluidigm's new reuse architecture represents the first step towards making this goal a reality. "We are elated that Fluidigm's reusable biochip can contribute to improving the food supply and bring the benefits of genetic analysis and testing to AgBio scientists and producers around the globe,” said Gajus Worthington, president and chief executive officer of Fluidigm. "A year ago, when we set out to develop a reusable chip, the notion was controversial. But we thought the idea was compelling--and so did our customers. I am so pleased that our scientists and engineers weren't inhibited by traditional thinking that believed reusability in the microfluidic device was impossible. Instead of acquiescing to the norm, they overcame the dogma of the past and achieved an engineering marvel. I believe reusability will be revolutionary for our industry and the life science fields we serve. Reusability lowers costs, eliminates waste, and confers flexibility. I can't think of an invention we've made at Fluidigm that has excited me more.”

Mr. Worthington noted that the company had also recently introduced an ultra-fast thermal cycler--the FC1 Cycler--and is adding a new IFC controller designed to support reusable chips. Initially the reuse family of products will include chips, a new controller, the FC1 Cycler, and either the EP1 Reader or the BioMark system. A new chip and instrument will be announced soon to start high-sample throughput genotyping customers down the reusable path. "We expect to bring additional chip configurations, instruments, and assays to the market place over this year and next that will make reusability practical for more customers, continue to lower costs per data point and set a course for genetic analysis to contribute to a better food supply for the world,” stated Mr. Worthington.

Application of Fluidigm's reuse technology will also contribute to the life-science industry's competitiveness. "We have recently added the Fluidigm system to the family of genomic services we offer our clients. We are seeing a great and growing need for high quality, cost-effective genetic testing services from plant and animal researchers. We have done some work in this area, but cost has always been a barrier. Fluidigm's new reusable chips will enable our agriculture-based customers to realize the tremendous benefits of SNP genotyping at significantly reduced costs,” said Steve McPhail, Expression Analysis's president and chief executive officer. Expression Analysis, Inc. (Durham, NC,USA) is a leading provider of genomic services for clinical trials and research.

Fluidigm develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary IFC systems that significantly improve productivity in life science research. Fluidigm's IFCs enable the simultaneous performance of thousands of sophisticated biochemical measurements in extremely minute volumes.

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