Applied Biosystems Introduces New, Integrated System Designed To Improve Gene Expression Analyses Involving Whole Blood Samples

Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation, today announced the introduction of the Tempus™ Blood RNA Tubes, an evacuated blood collection tube containing a reagent that stabilizes large quantities of high quality RNA and expression profiles for up to five days at room temperature, allowing both isolation and transportation of the collected blood. This product addresses a key challenge for clinical and basic researchers measuring changes in expression profiles that are reflective of a disease state or metabolic process, treatment regime, or therapeutic intervention.

Whole blood is a living tissue, and when drawn into standard evacuated collection tubes, continues to undergo metabolic processes, such as changes in expression profiles of a number of important gene targets. Some genes change their expression levels by as much as 50-fold in less than one hour at room temperature. For clinical or basic researchers measuring these changes, they require that the expression profiles must be frozen the instant the patient’s blood is drawn to obtain a precise snapshot of the underlying expression profile. By doing so, clinical researchers can accurately evaluate the progress of disease states, response to treatment, or drug toxicity. In addition, the expression profile must be stabilized over a number of days to allow for transportation from the site of blood extraction to the site of RNA purification and expression analysis.

“Because of the complexity of human blood composition and the fact that this living tissue continues to undergo metabolic processes after it is drawn, stabilizing expression profiles has been a particular challenge for researchers studying gene expression,” said Michael W. Hunkapiller, Ph.D., President of Applied Biosystems. “Furthermore, clinical research studies often require multiple blood draws over time and at multiple centers, making the reproducibility of results critical. The Tempus™ system provides a cost-effective and simple way to overcome these challenges and preserve the integrity of blood samples for more accurate gene expression analysis.”

The Tempus™ Blood RNA Tubes offer higher performance than existing products in the marketplace by yielding higher quantities of quality RNA with greater reproducibility. Additionally, the sample preparation protocol is easy-to-use and can be performed quickly with a minimal amount of required steps. The new blood tubes are a key component of an integrated system for gene expression analysis, which includes the ABI PRISM™ 6100 Nucleic Acid PrepStation and consumables that isolate and stabilize total RNA from whole blood for analysis on gene expression systems. These systems include the Applied Biosystems Expression Array System and the 7300, 7500, and ABI PRISM® 7900HT Real-Time PCR Systems. For more information about the Tempus™ Blood RNA Tubes, please visit http://info.appliedbiosystems.com/tempus2.

The Tempus™ Blood RNA Tubes are manufactured by Greiner Bio-One GmbH, one of the world’s leading suppliers of blood collection tubes, specimen collection devices, and accessories under the brand name VACUETTE for the clinical market. For more information about VACUETTE products please visit http://www.gbo.com/preanalytics.

About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems
Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries, develop new pharmaceuticals, and conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of $1.7 billion during fiscal 2003. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA), located in Rockville, MD, and South San Francisco, CA, is engaged principally in integrating advanced technologies to discover and develop new therapeutics. Celera intends to leverage its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop new therapeutics. Its Celera Discovery System™ online platform, marketed exclusively by Applied Biosystems, is an integrated source of information based on the human genome and other biological and medical sources. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of novel diagnostic products. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800.762.6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/.

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Copyright© 2004. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. Applied Biosystems is a registered trademark and Applera, Celera, Celera Diagnostics, Celera Discovery System, Celera Genomics, and Tempus are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.

For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.