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CARLSBAD, Calif., April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced that its Applied Biosystems® 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time PCR instrument is the sole platform cleared for use under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocol created for emergency screenings of patients suspected of harbouring the Avian influenza (H7N9) virus, which to date has led to 23 deaths in China and Taiwan.
Cleared under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), the 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time PCR instrument, in addition to Life’s SuperScript III One-Step qRT-PCR reagent kit, is intended to be used with the CDC’s human influenza virus assay to quickly monitor the spread of the pathogen and thwart a potential pandemic. To support this global need, Life Technologies is increasing production of its reagents and shipping them to labs around the world.
Life Technologies has a strong history of working with the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO) and public health labs to combat virus outbreaks:
- 2009 Life Technologies formed a special 24-hour-a-day task force to respond to global requests for assistance with the H1N1 outbreak.
- 2011 Life Technologies developed a custom assay to accurately detect the E. coli bacterium that spread through Europe. The assay was developed after company researchers, using samples supplied by scientists at University Hospital Munster, completed the DNA sequencing and analysis work on the deadly E. coli strain using the Ion PGM Sequencer.
- 2012 Life Technologies established the Global Influenza Network, a partnership of scientists at a number of the world’s leading government public health organizations, veterinary agencies and research institutes who collaborate in an effort to increase the speed and efficiency of influenza monitoring and vaccine development.
- Today Life Technologies’ Ion PGM Sequencer is being used to characterize the genetic sequence of the virus and to determine if it can be transmitted from human to human.
“We have learned through our past experiences that a strong surveillance program is crucial in times like these,” said Dan Didier, Public Health Director for Life Technologies. “We are working continually with our partners around the globe on improving our capabilities, particularly when it comes to developing rapid detection kits.”
Cases of the H7N9 virus have been reported out of China and Taiwan only. First cases of the human virus were confirmed in March with more than 100 cases.
SuperScript III One-Step qRT-PCR kit is for research use only; not intended for diagnostic purposes.
About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology company that is committed to providing the most innovative products and services to leading customers in the fields of scientific research, genetic analysis and applied sciences. With a presence in more than 180 countries, the company’s portfolio of 50,000 end-to-end solutions is secured by more than 5,000 patents and licenses that span the entire biological spectrum -- scientific exploration, molecular diagnostics, 21st century forensics, regenerative medicine and agricultural research. Life Technologies has approximately 10,000 employees and had sales of $3.8 billion in 2012.
Life Technologies’ Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies’ plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target,” “estimate,” “expect” and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions (“will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110216/MM49339LOGO)
Media Contact:
Patty Zamora
760-476-7818
patty.zamora@lifetech.com
SOURCE Life Technologies Corporation
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