BEIJING and FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Annoroad has selected the WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:WGBS) SmartChip platform for high-throughput target enrichment of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, SNP genotyping services and library quantification for next-generation sequencing (NGS). The system will provide the performance and flexibility to streamline key applications onto a single platform.
NGS-based applications for cancer discovery in clinical research are growing, leading to a need for higher throughput, reproducibility and efficiency in an emerging market. As China's leading developer of cancer genome analysis, Annoroad will leverage the SmartChip's assay miniaturization capability, which enables the equivalent of running fifty-four 96-well plates. The system will allow Annoroad to run hundreds of human samples in only three hours on a chip 1/6th the footprint of a microtiter plate.
"As the quantity of samples we receive increases, we find it challenging to meet demand utilizing manual applications and 384 well plates. The WaferGen SmartChip system will enable us to provide a high throughput solution for multiple applications," said Dr. Chongjian Chen, Annoroad's Chief Executive Officer.
"We are excited Annoroad has selected the WaferGen SmartChip system. This highlights the strengths of the platform for multiple applications and reinforces our commitment to the China market," said Rolland Carlson, President and Chief Executive Officer of WaferGen.
The SmartChip platform is a flexible and high-throughput system capable of target enrichment, qPCR and SNP genotyping. The system utilizes nanoliter scale single-plex reactions for assays to provide more consistent performance and streamlined workflows, reducing the need for costly and time consuming confirmation methods that similar technologies require.
About Annoroad
Annoroad is headquartered in Beijing, China and is a well-known enterprise in the genomic industry in China. The company is committed to providing cutting edge genomic solutions in both clinical testing and life science research. Annoroad was entitled as the National High Innovative Technology Enterprise, and charted as the national clinical pilot site of NGS in China given its major position in the domestic market and next-gen sequencing technology. Annoroad has developed serials of NGS diagnostic applications in the field of human reproduction, cancer, and rare diseases, forming the excellent product system and market brand. In the field of science and technology service, Annoroad provides state-of-the-art sequencing and bioinformatics solutions for research organizations under its sub-brand.
About WaferGen
WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc. is a life science company that offers innovative genomic solutions for clinical testing and research. The SmartChip MyDesign™ Real-Time PCR System is a high-throughput genetic analysis platform for profiling and validating molecular biomarkers via microRNA and mRNA gene expression profiling, as well as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. The SmartChip TE™ System is a novel product offering for target enrichment geared towards clinical Next-Gen sequencing (NGS). The Seq-Ready™ TE System, powered by SmartChip™ massively-parallel single-plex PCR technology, is an innovative one-step target enrichment and library preparation solution. The Company now also offers the Apollo 324™ product line used in library preparation for NGS. These three complementary technologies offer a powerful set of tools enabling more accurate, faster and cheaper genetic analysis based on Next-Gen Sequencing and Real-Time PCR.
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