Partnership to Simplify Complex DNA Microarray Analyses

A partnership between American and British biotech companies will automate and simplify the complex and error-prone manual steps previously required for performing DNA microarray analyses.

BlueGnome (Cambridge, United Kingdom) has announced the signing of a supply agreement with SciGene (Sunnyvale, CA, USA). SciGene will manufacture BlueGnome’s new range of ClearHyb hybridization and wash systems.

Previously SciGene had noted that BlueGnome’s recommended manual labeling, hybridization, and posthybridization processing methods for its CytoChip test required a collection of laboratory equipment and supplies including staining dishes, slide boxes, stirrers, Coplin jars, a water bath, and an oven that need to be collected, cleaned, and assembled for each run. Once set up, the procedure was technically challenging with many handling steps including the use of seven different washes with careful monitoring of buffer temperatures. The complexity of the methods provided multiple entry points for variability that could lead to ambiguous patient results and a higher cost per test.

The new partnership was designed to eliminate this ambiguity by automating and simplifying the complex and error-prone manual steps from sample preparation through slide processing for improved test reliability and lowered cost.

Nick Haan, CEO of BlueGnome, said, “Time to market is a major issue for new laboratories that wish to establish and evolve their microarray-based services. With sales to 39 countries so far this year, we find that new laboratories are increasingly looking for a complete turnkey solution, including laboratory hardware, which enables their newly trained scientists to deliver the highest quality results in the shortest possible timeframe. We have long recommended SciGene products as the best available solution for hybridization and washing of our microarrays and are excited to be working with them to strengthen this relationship with new ClearHyb products.”

Dr. Jim Stanchfield, president and CEO of SciGene, said, “We are pleased with our partnership whereby SciGene technology will be used to simplify the microarray workflow used with BlueGnome’s array solutions that will enhance the reproducibility of these assays and their customers’ laboratory productivity.”

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