New Bacs On Beads™ Technology For Rapid Detection Of Chromosomal Abnormalities Demonstrated

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 08 May 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader focused on improving the health and safety of people and the environment, announced the Company's new BACs on BeadsTM technology for the rapid and cost effective detection of chromosomal abnormalities. This is the first demonstration that the BACs on BeadsTM technology can be applied to detect structural and numeric abnormalities rapidly and simultaneously in a single analysis.

Dr. Susan J. Gross, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Chairperson at New York's Jacobi Medical Center, presented data on results of an application developed in her facility of BACs on BeadsTM for analysis of amniotic fluid today at the annual conference of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology taking place in Chicago, Illinois. This application of BACs on Beads™ technology is currently undergoing clinical validation in Dr. Gross' laboratory.

"BACs on BeadsTM is an ideal technology for laboratories to develop assays which have the potential to detect, during pregnancy, additional cases of severe disability and mental retardation, beyond current technologies that focus on Down Syndrome," said Dr. Gross. "The technology represents a tremendous opportunity to increase access to cost-effective molecular karyotyping."

In BACs on BeadsTM, a DNA probe targeted to the genomic location of interest is bound to a polystyrene bead. Complementary DNA in the sample hybridizes to the probe DNA on the bead and can then be measured to detect specific chromosomal abnormalities.

"BACs on BeadsTM reflects our commitment to deliver new technologies that improve health and well-being. We are very excited about this first application of the BACs on BeadsTM molecular karyotyping technology," said Ann-Christine Sundell, president, Genetic Screening, PerkinElmer. "We look forward to seeing the culmination of Dr. Gross' efforts to apply the BACs on Beads technology to routine clinical use."

PerkinElmer plans to introduce BACs on BeadsTM test kits for research applications globally later this year.

Source
PerkinElmer, Inc.