LifeLabs Now Offering Panorama™ NIPT in Canada via Natera’s Constellation Software Platform
Constellation™ software provides access to Natera’s innovative bioinformatics through the cloud
SAN CARLOS, Calif., Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Natera, Inc., (NASDAQ: NTRA), a leader in non-invasive genetic testing and the analysis of circulating cell-free DNA, today announced that LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services (“LifeLabs”), a leading Canadian laboratory services provider, is now performing the Panorama non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) at its genetics laboratory in Toronto, leveraging Natera’s proprietary technology and Constellation, Natera’s cloud-based software platform, for clinical genomic analysis.
The Constellation software platform provides cloud-based access to the bioinformatic algorithms that Natera has developed for clinical genomic applications in circulating cell-free DNA. The availability of these algorithms allows partner laboratories around the world to rapidly develop and validate their own clinical genomic assays for current applications such as NIPT and non-invasive prenatal paternity testing and future products in development such as liquid biopsy assays for oncology. The Constellation software platform is developed to meet rigorous patient privacy standards and is highly scalable to accommodate the growing demand for genetic testing around the world.
Panorama is a safe and simple way for expectant mothers to gain certain information about the health of their fetus without an invasive diagnostic procedure. Panorama uses a simple blood draw from the mother to examine cell-free DNA found in maternal blood originating from both mother and fetus to screen for chromosome abnormalities, including trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome), monosomy X (Turner syndrome), and triploidy. The screening test can be performed as early as nine weeks of gestation and there is no risk to the fetus.
“We are pleased that LifeLabs has chosen the Natera Constellation platform to offer NIPT locally to Canadians,” said Matthew Rabinowitz, Ph.D., CEO of Natera. “Panorama is a trusted name in prenatal screening, and now Natera has deployed a scalable cloud-based software system that will support laboratories worldwide in developing non-invasive DNA testing capabilities of their own.”
Following a competitive bidding process, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has chosen LifeLabs to perform the Panorama test and will fund the cost of performing the test for expectant mothers who are considered high-risk and meet certain criteria. For more information about receiving Panorama in Canada, visit www.LifeLabsGenetics.com or call 1 84 GENE HELP (1 844 363 4357).
About LifeLabs
LifeLabs is a Canadian-owned company with over 50 years of experience providing laboratory testing services to help healthcare providers diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease in patients. In communities across British Columbia and Ontario, LifeLabs delivers cost-effective, convenient access to laboratory testing services essential for optimal outcomes in healthcare. LifeLabs employs approximately 5,400 professionally trained staff and delivers over 100 million laboratory tests, supporting over 19 million patient visits annually. In 2013, LifeLabs acquired BC Biomedical in British Columbia and CML HealthCare in Ontario making LifeLabs the largest community laboratory in Canada. LifeLabs is indirectly owned by OMERS Administration Corporation, whose interest is managed by Borealis Infrastructure.
NIPT is one example of LifeLabs’ commitment to provide innovations that benefit patients and their families, healthcare providers and governments. In addition to being the first community lab to conduct NIPT in Canada, LifeLabs is the first lab to provide on-line appointment booking for patients, non-fasting protocols and secure, on-line access to lab results for patients. For more information about LifeLabs visit www.LifeLabs.com.
About Natera
Natera is a genetic testing company that develops and commercializes non-invasive methods for analyzing DNA. The mission of the company is to transform the diagnosis and management of genetic disease. In pursuit of that mission, Natera operates a CAP-accredited laboratory certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) in San Carlos, CA, and it currently offers a host of proprietary genetic testing services primarily to OB/GYN physicians and fertility centers, as well as to genetic laboratories through its cloud-based Constellation™ software system. Tests include the Spectrum™ pre-implantation genetic test for embryo selection during IVF; the Anora™ miscarriage test to understand the genetic causes of a pregnancy loss; the Horizon™ carrier screen to detect inherited mutations; and the Panorama™ non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) to screen for common chromosomal anomalies in a fetus as early as nine weeks of gestation. Natera is also applying its unique technologies to develop non-invasive screening and diagnostic tools for earlier detection and improved treatment of cancer. These tests have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although FDA does not currently clear or approve laboratory-developed tests in the U.S., certification of the laboratory is required under CLIA to ensure the quality and validity of the tests.
