The companies will co-develop and validate Y-Screen technology, which combines ReliaGene's Y-Detect(TM) male-specific DNA recognition system with the ChargeSwitch(R) Forensics DNA Purification Kit from Invitrogen. The Y-Screen system will allow forensic scientists to rapidly purify DNA from forensic evidence with ChargeSwitch(R) technology and detect very small amounts of male DNA in biological evidence with Y-Detect(TM).
“As we continue to expand our portfolio to address new applications, partnerships such as this will play a key role in bringing scientific innovation to the realm of human health and safety.”
"This combination of Invitrogen's ChargeSwitch(R) and ReliaGene's Y-detect technologies will provide forensic scientists with a simple and highly accurate method for screening biological samples for the presence of male DNA," said Dr. Leonard Klevan, CEO of ReliaGene Technologies. "The rapid screening of sexual assault kits and other difficult evidence samples will greatly contribute to the efficiency of forensic DNA analysis."
"We are delighted to enable ReliaGene's novel Y-screen system for forensic evidence samples through our ChargeSwitch(R) nucleic acid purification technology," said Paul Pickering, Nucleic Acid Purification and Quantitation Business Segment Leader for Invitrogen. "With its novel mechanism of action, ChargeSwitch(R) technology eliminates many amplification inhibitors commonly found in traditional purification technologies, providing a rapid solution to the increasingly demanding applications found within the life science, clinical and forensic communities."
Traditional methods of screening for male DNA in sexual assault evidence include alkaline-phosphatase screening, P30 testing (a test for seminal fluid), and microscopy, each of which can yield false positive results. Y-Screen uses a DNA probe that is specific to the male Y chromosome. The product will complement traditional methods and minimize screening errors by significantly reducing false negatives from non-DNA based screening.
"The collaboration with ReliaGene reflects our ongoing effort to extend Invitrogen technologies to new applications," concluded Dr. Claude Benchimol, Senior Vice President, Research and Development for Invitrogen. "As we continue to expand our portfolio to address new applications, partnerships such as this will play a key role in bringing scientific innovation to the realm of human health and safety."
The Y-Screen product will be released in the first quarter of 2006.
About ReliaGene Technologies Inc.
Founded in 1990, ReliaGene Technologies Inc. is a leading DNA laboratory facility specializing in human genetic identification and related biotech product development. With cutting-edge capabilities for forensic and paternity DNA testing, ReliaGene has now successfully detected human genetic profiles from over 400,000 biological samples, including cases from all 50 U.S. states and over 35 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit ReliaGene's website at: www.reliagene.com.
About Invitrogen Corporation
Invitrogen Corporation (Nasdaq:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen's own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and cell biology -- placing Invitrogen's products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company globally employs approximately 4,500 scientists and other professionals and had revenues of more than $1 billion in 2004. For more information, visit www.invitrogen.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements contained in this press release are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is Invitrogen's intent that such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: 1.) Invitrogen and ReliaGene will co-develop and validate Y-screen technology for launch in the first quarter of 2006; 2.) Y-Screen technology will enable researchers to purify male DNA from forensic samples; 3.) Rapid screening of forensic samples will contribute to the efficiency of forensics overall; 4.) Invitrogen will continue to apply its technologies to new areas of research. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks: a) Timelines for development and launch of Y-screen technology may vary; b) Y-screen technology may be used in other areas of life science research; c) Increased screening capacity may not improve forensics research efficiency; and d) Invitrogen may not continue to extend its technologies beyond its core competencies, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Invitrogen's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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