New platform, to be commercially available by the end of 2003, enables drug-discovery and disease researchers to perform whole-genome screening at a lower cost and with higher reproducibility
Agilent Technologies has announced it has shipped whole human-genome microarrays to customers for testing and evaluation. The whole genome microarray is based on Agilent's new double-density format, which can accommodate 44,000 features on a single 1" x 3" glass-slide microarray.
The new platform enables drug-discovery and disease researchers to perform whole-genome screening at a lower cost and with higher reproducibility.
"This is an important step toward our release of the first whole human-genome microarray product, which is expected to be available for order before the end of the year," said Barney Saunders, vice president and general manager of Agilent's BioResearch Solutions unit. "Customers have long wanted a one-sample, one-chip format with the increased sensitivity associated with 60-mer probes. "The cost savings and high-quality performance make this product a compelling alternative for scientists who make their own microarrays".
Agilent's microarrays are based on the industry-standard 1" x 3" (25mm x 75mm) format, which is compatible with most commercial microarray scanners.
All Agilent commercial microarrays are developed using content from public databases and proprietary sources, with full sequence and annotation information made available to customers.
Gene sequences for probes are developed using algorithms and then validated empirically through iterative wet-lab testing procedures.
The result is a microarray comprised of functionally validated probes, with the most up-to-date and comprehensive genome information commercially available.
Advantages of the double-density format include the following.
Lower cost.
Not only is one microarray less expensive than two, it requires fewer reagents and reduces instrumentation demands.
Streamlined workflow.
Researchers need prepare and process only one microarray instead of two.
This also results in fewer steps in the subsequent data analysis.
Greater reproducibility.
Use of a single microarray further reduces unnecessary variability in experimental conditions.
Smaller sample use.
A smaller quantity of sample material is required to perform an experiment. Availability Agilent's Whole Human Genome microarray is expected to be available for order by the end of the year.
