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Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory Selects Fluidigm BioMarkTM HD Platform to Track Infectious Agents


Rapid Detection of Pathogens by the Fluidigm System Will Help Control Serious Threats to Public Health such as Flu Pandemics and SARS.

The Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory (SDCL), operated by the province's Ministry of Health, has selected the Fluidigm BioMarkTM HD System as a cornerstone technology for its laboratory in Regina. The SDCL provides a variety of services to the public health institutions in the province, including testing for and monitoring of environmental specimens, food-borne illnesses, communicable diseases, influenza and a neonatal screening program.

The SDCL has developed a unique set of real-time PCR based tests which enables it to detect a wide range of respiratory and enteric diseases such as influenza, norovirus and salmonella. These tests will be used in conjunction with the BioMark HD System to rapidly identify pathogens. The BioMark HD System uses Fluidigm's distinctive microfluidic-based integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) to quickly turn around up to 9,216 tests in parallel within hours of receiving the sample from the clinic.

"The emergence of super-bugs over the past few years has placed a spotlight on the critical role disease control labs such as the SDCL play in keeping all of us safe. New strains of influenza and emerging diseases require outstanding science, rapid response and a willingness to embrace the best technology the world has to offer. Fluidigm is excited to be working with the SDCL as it implements some of the world's most advanced science in the rapid detection of potentially dangerous diseases," said Gajus Worthington, Fluidigm President and Chief Executive Officer.

The BioMarkTM HD System

The BioMark HD System performs high-throughput real-time PCR using nanofluidic technology -- allowing scientists to collect more data points per day at less cost than conventional PCR systems. By miniaturizing the liquid handling steps required to carry out complex genetic analysis of biological samples, the BioMark HD System enables researchers to rapidly study differential expression of tissues with exceptional data quality, reliability and ease of use. The system has the ability to use a wide variety of sample types right down to the single-cell level, multiple chemistry options and additional capabilities such as genotyping, digital PCR and mutation detection.

About Fluidigm

Fluidigm develops, manufactures, and markets microfluidic systems to leading academic institutions, clinical laboratories, and pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agricultural biotechnology companies in growth markets, such as single-cell genomics, applied genotyping, and sample preparation for targeted resequencing. Fluidigm’s proprietary microfluidic systems consist of instruments and consumables, including 13 different commercial IFCs for nucleic acid analysis, and three families of assay chemistries. These systems are designed to significantly simplify experimental workflow, increase throughput, and reduce costs, while providing the excellent data quality demanded by customers. Fluidigm products are provided: “For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.”

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