Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex’s New Automated Testing Solution Improves Food Contaminant Detection; New Software-based System Transforms Routine Food Testing into a More Precise, More Comprehensive and Less Complex Process
Applied Biosystems (NYSE: ABI), an Applera Corporation business, and its joint venture partner, MDS Sciex, a division of MDS Inc. (NYSE:MDZ, TSX:MDS), today announced the first automated system for better detection of food contaminants, such as pesticides, dyes, mold-related toxins, and chemical and antibiotic residues. According to the National Center for Infectious Diseases, an estimated 76 million Americans experience food-related illnesses each year. This new system addresses the urgent need for a more effective approach to food testing.
As the first application in the new family of Cliquid(TM) Software for routine laboratory analysis, Cliquid(TM) Software for Food Testing increases the precision and comprehensiveness of food contaminant testing while also simplifying the process. As a result, food producers, manufacturers and public health testing facilities in the highly regulated environment of food production and safety testing can more quickly and thoroughly identify a wider range of contaminants. Cliquid(TM) Software has been designed to bring point-and-click functionality to Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX’s high-performance LC/MS/MS (liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry) systems.
One of several collaborators to help define the requirements for LC/MS/MS analysis in the food testing market was Dr. Philippe Guy of the Quality and Safety Assurance Department at the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Nestle Research Center is among the global leaders in food research.
“The Cliquid(TM) Software provides research facilities, like ours at Nestle, with the ability to deploy new validated methods, instrument tests and reporting requirements more easily to our regional laboratories,” said Dr. Guy. “Indeed, with such a simple interface and workflow, laboratory personnel can adopt LC/MS/MS techniques and rapidly produce high quality standardized results.
Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX combined highly sensitive analytical tools with advanced software to create the new system, which is the industry’s first commercially-available automated food contaminant testing solution. Cliquid(TM) Software harnesses the power of Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX’s industry-leading mass spectrometers for advanced analytical capabilities. Mass spectrometry is a proven technology that offers extremely high levels of sensitivity by detecting the molecules in various substances. With the new system, Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX is applying this technology to food testing through an easy-to-use software interface, delivering a custom-tailored solution to food companies and public health testing facilities without the need for extra resources or special training in mass spectrometry.
With pre-configured testing methods and the flexibility to easily create and add new methods, Cliquid(TM) Software allows testing facilities of any size to develop systematic testing protocols. Results are captured in automatically-generated reports that can be customized to meet quality control, regulatory and laboratory requirements worldwide.
“Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX is responding to the persistent threat of food contamination by reshaping the food testing process,” said Leonard Klevan, president for Applied Biosystems’ Applied Markets division. “With Cliquid(TM) Software, routine testing no longer has to mean routine complexity.”
Cliquid(TM) Software for Food Testing will be available as a stand-alone software package or as part of a complete testing system that includes either Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX’s API 3200(TM) or 3200 Q TRAP(R) mass spectrometers, coupled with an HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) system and starter kit, and installation and applications training. Cliquid(TM) Software for Food Testing is expected to be available in July 2006.
“The Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX joint venture delivers innovations that can be applied to ensure high quality food safety testing,” said Andy Boorn, president of MDS Sciex. “Cliquid(TM) Software for Food Testing will put the power of mass spectrometry into the hands of food testers worldwide.”
Cliquid(TM) Software will be demonstrated at the 54th annual American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) conference in Seattle this week. In the future, the Cliquid(TM) Software family is expected to expand to include additional routine analysis applications.
More information on Applied Biosystems’ food safety testing solutions can be found at the following URL: http://info.appliedbiosystems.com/food_safety_testing
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 and develop new pharmaceuticals. Applied Biosystems’ products also serve the needs of some markets outside of life science research, which we refer to as “applied markets,” such as the fields of: human identity testing (forensic and paternity testing); biosecurity, which refers to products needed in response to the threat of biological terrorism and other malicious, accidental, and natural biological dangers; and quality and safety testing, for example in food and the environment. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of nearly $1.8 billion during fiscal 2005. The Celera Genomics Group uses proprietary genomics and proteomics discovery platforms to develop molecular diagnostic products and to identify and validate novel drug targets. Celera maintains a strategic alliance in molecular diagnostics with Abbott. In addition, Celera is developing new molecular diagnostic and pharmacogenomic assays outside of its alliance with Abbott. Therapeutic antibodies against Celera-discovered drug targets are being advanced through strategic partnerships. 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.
About MDS Sciex and MDS Inc.
MDS Sciex is the analytical instrumentation and technology solutions division of MDS Inc. MDS Inc. (TSX:MDS)(NYSE:MDZ) has more than 8,800 highly skilled people in 27 countries. It provides a diverse range of superior products and services to increase customers’ speed, precision and productivity in the drug development and disease diagnosis processes. MDS is a global, values-driven life sciences company, recognized for its reliability and collaborative relationships that help create better outcomes in the treatment of disease. Find out more at www.mdsinc.com or by calling 1-800-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day.
Applied Biosystems, AB (design) and Celera are registered trademarks, and Applera is a trademark of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the US. and/or certain other countries. Cliquid and API 3200 are trademarks and Q TRAP is a registered trademark of Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX, a joint venture between Applera Corporation and MDS Inc. Copyright 2006. Applera Corporation and MDS Inc. All Rights Reserved.
