LGC Invests in Fluidigm’s Integrated Fluidic Circuit Technology -First BioMark™ System for Genetic Analysis in the UK

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fluidigm Corporation, the inventor of integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs), today announced that LGC, an international leader in laboratory services and measurement standards, has purchased a BioMark™ System for genetic analysis for use in its United Kingdom laboratories. The system, with its integrated fluidic circuit technology, adds digital PCR to LGC’s existing range of capabilities, which includes quantitative PCR, genotyping, gene expression, copy number variation and absolute quantification for sequencing.

The addition of IFC technology to LGC’s portfolio will further enhance the range of services that LGC currently offers to its customers. LGC is the first company in the UK to purchase the system. Initial LGC work with IFC technology will focus on digital PCR and gene expression opportunities within the company’s Research & Technology Division, but further application across the company’s three other divisions – LGC Standards, Life & Food Sciences and LGC Forensics — is anticipated.

“We are thrilled to be working with LGC to bring Fluidigm’s integrated circuit for biology to researchers in the UK,” said Gajus Worthington, President and CEO, Fluidigm. “LGC’s reputation for uncompromised quality makes it a perfect partner to introduce the special capabilities of integrated fluidic circuit technology and our BioMark system to life science researchers. As an international leader in scientific excellence and technical measurement, LGC is well-suited to exploit the increasing opportunities for more accurate DNA quantification that digital PCR offers.”

Dr. Derek Craston, Director of LGC’s Research & Technology Division and the Government Chemist, commented on this latest addition to LGC’s portfolio: “LGC is pleased to add Fluidigm’s BioMark System to our portfolio. The system will initially be used by the scientific teams in LGC’s Research & Technology Division to look at the accurate quantification of rare target sequences for applications such as health diagnostics and monitoring the efficiency of drug therapies.”

The BioMark System uses integrated fluidic circuit technology to reduce complexity, improve throughput with nanoliter precision and provide significant cost-savings (less reagent and smaller samples) for high-throughput genotyping applications. Fluidigm’s new BioMark™ 96.96 Dynamic Array is capable of performing 9,216 simultaneous real-time PCR experiments running gold-standard TaqMan® assays in nanoliter quantities.

Researching all aspects of digital PCR, from quantification through standardization and comparing it to other methods used today should help the UK biotech industry be at the forefront of today’s industry. This is just one of many exciting cutting-edge investigations that IFC technology can enable for the LGC.

About LGC

LGC (www.lgc.co.uk) is an international science-based company and market leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services and reference standards. A progressive and innovative enterprise, LGC operates in socially responsible fields underpinning the safety, health and security of the public and the regulation of industry, for UK government departments and blue chip clients.

LGC operates internationally through four divisions – LGC Forensics, Life & Food Sciences, LGC Standards and Research & Technology, which includes specialist laboratories for the delivery of contracts under the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and to serve its designated role as the UK’s National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalysis.

Our methodology is extensively accredited to the international standard ISO 17025. Headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, the LGC Group employs over 1200 staff in 21 laboratories and centres across Europe and in India. Privatised in 1996 and now majority-owned by funds managed by LGV Capital, LGC was founded over 150 years ago as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist – a statutory function maintained by LGC today.

About Fluidigm

Fluidigm develops, manufactures and markets proprietary Integrated Fluidic Circuit (IFC) systems that significantly improve productivity in life science research. Fluidigm’s IFCs enable the simultaneous performance of thousands of sophisticated biochemical measurements in nanoliter volumes. These “integrated circuits for biology” are made possible by miniaturizing and integrating liquid handling components on a single microfabricated device. Fluidigm’s IFC systems, consisting of instrumentation, software and single-use IFCs, increase throughput, decrease costs and enhance sensitivity compared to conventional laboratory systems. Fluidigm products have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a diagnostic and are only available for research use.

For more information, please visit http://www.Fluidigm.com.

Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, Topaz, BioMark, and NanoFlex are trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation.

Source: http://www.businesswire.com

~ by vascoteixeira on August 27, 2008.