Bio-Rad’s QX100™ Droplet Digital™ PCR System User Group Meeting Demonstrates System and Technology Gaining Traction

Date: 
2012-11-19

Bio-Rad to Hold 2nd QX100 Users Group Meeting, Dec. 6–7, Boston

Hercules, CA — November 19, 2012 — Evaluating a treatment for AIDS. Analyzing archival cancer samples. Tracking the RNA of a mutated gene known to cause cancer. Researchers recently met in San Diego to discuss these and many other ways they are using Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.’s QX100 Droplet Digital PCR system to achieve their research goals. Bio-Rad’s second QX100 User Group Meeting will be held Dec. 6–7, 2012 in Boston.

“Our first user group meeting demonstrated substantial traction for droplet digital PCR in applications that require unprecedented levels of sensitivity, precision, and reproducibility, such as the measurement of copy number variation and rare mutation/sequence detection,” said Viresh Patel, digital PCR marketing manager at Bio-Rad.

The research community has embraced the QX100 system since its release in October, 2011, as evidenced both by industry awards and the strong sales and market growth of the instrument, which is expected to continue. A recent survey conducted by The Scientist and research firm Frost & Sullivan found that 30 percent of non-digital PCR users plan to implement digital PCR in their labs in 2013. Frost & Sullivan believes the QX100 system will lead the digital PCR marketplace due to the instrument’s simplicity, performance, and affordability.

Researchers Share Droplet Digital Success Stories
During the first QX100 User Group Meeting in San Diego, academic, industry, and government researchers spoke about the benefits of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR™). Kerry Emslie, manager of the Bioanalysis Group at Australia’s National Measurement Institute, presented research published in Analytical Chemistry evaluating the performance of the QX100 system in quantifying DNA copy numbers. Using lambda genomic DNA as a model, she concluded that the system’s results are more precise than those typically observed using either real-time PCR or other digital PCR systems based on microfluidic chambers.

Dr. Hanlee Ji of the Stanford University School of Medicine spoke about his experience analyzing archival cancer samples using ddPCR analysis. In a recent report in Translational Medicine, Dr. Ji demonstrated that ddPCR improves accuracy and precision over real-time PCR when measuring copy number variation in genomic DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cancer tissue.

“We run droplet digital PCR routinely,” said Dr. Ji. “It’s part of our set of genome technologies that allow us to conduct translational studies that have clinical implications.”

Users also presented research demonstrating the ultra-sensitivity of ddPCR for detecting rare events. Highlights included a contract research organization that screens for EGFR mutations in circulating nucleic acids, biotech researchers who quantify rare HIV DNA targets, and the development of a laboratory test that tracks the transcript of a fusion gene that activates cancer.

For more information about the upcoming Boston user group meeting, please contact Viresh Patel at viresh_patel@bio-rad.com or 925-474-8602.

About Bio-Rad
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) has remained at the center of scientific discovery for more than 50 years, manufacturing and distributing a broad range of products for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The company is renowned worldwide among hospitals, universities, major research institutions, as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for its commitment to quality and customer service. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is headquartered in Hercules, California, and serves more than 100,000 research and industry customers worldwide through its global network of operations. The company employs over 7,100 people globally and had revenues exceeding $2 billion in 2011. For more information, visit www.bio-rad.com.

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For more information contact: 
Richard Kurtz
Bio-Rad
510-741-5638
Richard_Kurtz@bio-rad.com

Ken Li
Chempetitive Group
312-997-2436 x 112
kli@chempetitive.com