Hercules, CA — April 23, 2014 — Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) today announced the launch of two PrimePCR™ Assay Kits for Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR™)(ddPCR™). This release expands Bio-Rad’s offering of predesigned, fully wet-lab validated assays with kits for SMN1 and SMN2 copy number determination. These targets are commonly studied genes associated with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
Bio-Rad’s ddPCR technology provides an absolute measure of target DNA molecules without the need for a standard curve. Together with PrimePCR™ Copy Number Determination Kits, the technology enables the quantitative discrimination required to resolve small fold changes in gene copy numbers for copy number variation (CNV) analysis. Using current methods, CNV analysis often provides ambiguous data, making it difficult for researchers to round copy number data to the nearest integer. In combination with ddPCR technology, the new PrimePCR Assays provide scientists the ability to achieve near-integer copy number calls for SMN1 and SMN2 at high-throughput levels, thereby accelerating discovery and enabling new strategies for SMA research.
The predesigned ddPCR SMN1 and SMN2 Copy Number Determination Assays alleviate the need for assay design and optimization that multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays require. The kits also include all necessary reagents and positive controls to simplify troubleshooting and improve consistency between labs.
PrimePCR ddPCR Assays are compatible with all Bio-Rad Droplet Digital PCR Systems, including the QX200™ AutoDG™ Droplet Digital™ PCR System.
For more information on Bio-Rad’s PrimePCR products, please visit www.bio-rad.com/PrimePCRpr.
About Bio-Rad
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of innovative products and solutions for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The company is renowned for its commitment to quality and customer service among university and research institutions, hospitals, public health and commercial laboratories, as well as the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and food safety industries. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and serves more than 100,000 research and healthcare industry customers through its global network of operations. The company employs more than 7,600 people worldwide and had revenues exceeding $2.1 billion in 2014. For more information, please visit www.bio-rad.com.
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