GenVault announced in June 2003 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) chose its system in a study in conjunction with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
NHANES is a survey designed to collect information about the health and diet of people in the United States.
"The launch of our service with such a prestigious first customer is true validation of our high speed archiving system for efficient sample and data management", said Mitch Eggers, chief executive officer and president of GenVault.
"Efficient DNA storage solutions are needed to support broad research and clinical interest in pharmacogenomics and pharmacogenetics.
"We are gratified to offer a product that will enable researchers to make better use of their limited space and resources, and ultimately contribute to medical and therapeutic discoveries".
In the initial study, GenVault's automated archiving technology will be used to extract and store DNA from blood samples of several hundred NHANES participants.
The goal is to enable efficient collection of samples for genetic testing, which is one of the primary purposes of the NHANES project.
Conducted by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, the NHANES project began in the 1960s as the National Health Examination Survey, a continuing survey to provide current statistical data on the amount, distribution, and effects of illness and disability in the United States.
An emphasis on nutrition was added in the 1970s, and, more recently, the collection and storage of samples for genetic testing was added.
The storage and processing of DNA samples in the past has been labor intensive.
The use of the GenVault system streamlines this process for more efficient collection and retrieval of specimens.
GenVault's system is based on 384-well microplates containing solid-state elements that extract DNA from buccal (cheek) cells or blood samples upon contact, trapping the DNA in a format that can be stored and shipped at room temperature without special biohazard labelling and treatment.
Current data demonstrate that the DNA is stably preserved in this form for more than 11 years and that it may be extracted and purified at will with a few buffer washes also at room temperature.
For guaranteed tracking of samples, GenCode is introduced into each sample element.
This biological barcode duplicates the information present in the label on the sample plate, ensuring that sample elements may be identified even if they are removed from the microplate.
GenVault's integrated storage system is highly automated, with custom industrial robotics for the extraction and replating of elements.
The GenVault platform includes sophisticated sample and clinical data management software that documents the clinically relevant details and archive status of each sample.
Together, GenVault's high speed Dynamic Archive will allow researchers to efficiently extract, store, retrieve and document extensive sample collections.
