Fluidigm announces Israeli distribution deal

Fluidigm Corporation, the inventor of integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs), has appointed Eisenberg Brothers Ltd. as its distributor in Israel. Eisenberg Brothers will offer Fluidigm's complete portfolio of BioMark, EP1, and Access Array Systems and the complete line up of Dynamic Array, Digital Array  and Access Array IFCs for real-time PCR, digital PCR, genotyping, gene expression, copy number variation and absolute quantification for sequencing.

Leukemia lab invests in Fluidigm Access Array and EP1 Systems

Fluidigm Corporation has announced that MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory has purchased Access Array and EP1 Systems. The Access Array System is being used in combination with Roche's 454 GS FLX and GS Junior sequencing instruments, enabling high-throughput targeted deep-resequencing analyses. The EP1 System is being used for rare mutation detection studies and minimal residual disease investigations.

MLL combines diagnostic competences in cytomorphology, immunophenotyping, molecular genetics, and cytogenetics to provide patients with hematological malignancies with optimized, individualized, and highly reliable diagnoses.

"The number of molecular markers used to categorize myeloid neoplasms is constantly increasing. Amplicon-based next-generation sequencing is a suitable method to accurately detect and quantify the variety of molecular aberrations with high sensitivity (Kohlmann A et al., J Clin Oncol. 2010; 28:3858-65). We recently have added next-generation amplicon deep-sequencing to the portfolio of molecular diagnostic tests as part of our daily routine operations," said Prof. Torsten Haferlach, co-founder and CEO of MLL.

"Combining the Access Array and 454 sequencing systems delivers a robust and streamlined workflow that minimizes the number of manual steps required for targeted sequencing applications. MLL's installation is a perfect match for the capabilities of these systems that will enable high-quality analyses," said Gajus Worthington, president and CEO of Fluidigm. "Adding the EP1 System to the molecular diagnostic workflow will further enhance the detection and quantification of cancer mutations."

Fluidigm develops, manufactures and markets proprietary Integrated Fluidic Circuit (IFC) systems that significantly improve productivity in life science research. Fluidigm IFCs enable the simultaneous performance of thousands of sophisticated biochemical measurements in extremely minute volumes. These "integrated circuits for biology" are made possible by miniaturizing and integrating liquid handling components on a single microfluidic device. Fluidigm systems, consisting of instrumentation, software and chips, increase throughput, decrease costs and enhance sensitivity compared to conventional laboratory systems.

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Research newsletter for biochip user community

Fluidigm Corporation has announced that the Fall 2010 edition of its community newsletter is now available free to download from www.fluidigm.com/newsletters/Q3%20newsletter-rev2-FINAL.html.

The Fluidigm Community Newsletter is a quarterly publication dedicated to providing you with the most recent research, product updates, and news featuring Fluidigm Integrated Fluidic Circuit (IFC) technology.

Reusable bio-chip offers high sample throughput SNP genotyping

Fluidigm Corporation has launched its reusable FR48.48 Dynamic Array integrated fluidic circuit (IFC) - the world's first reusable bio-chip for the SNP genotyping market. This chip begins a new era of ultra-low cost, high sample throughput SNP genotyping and marks the beginning of Fluidigm's drive toward one-penny-per-data point.

The FR48.48 Dynamic Array IFC is the first in a line of reusable chip products that will significantly lower costs and enable the use of SNP genotyping in a wide range of applications, including plant and animal biotechnology.

Institute reports on genetic analysis results

Fluidigm Corporation has announced that the Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées Genomic Platform - Genotoul INRA core facility is now providing a wide range of services on a BioMark System for Genetic Analysis to a diverse range of French researchers.

These services include SNP genotyping, gene expression analysis and digital PCR quantification of DNA libraries for next-generation sequencing. The INRA has been validating the performance of the system on several projects over the past year.