Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and State Health Labs Select Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex Mass Spectrometer as an Approved Standard for Chemical Terrorism Laboratory Network
Applied Biosystems Group, an Applera Corporation business, together with its joint venture partner MDS Sciex, a division of MDS Inc., today announced the sale of 21 API 4000(TM) LC/MS/MS Systems to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several state health laboratories. These systems will be deployed in state and local CDC labs as part of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) and provide a validated platform for identifying harmful chemical agents nationwide.
“Today’s world requires that the nation’s public health agencies and homeland security professionals have access to technologies that allow them to rapidly identify and effectively respond to natural and man-made chemical and biological threats,” said Mark P. Stevenson, Division President, Applied Markets, Applied Biosystems. “As part of Applied Biosystems’ BioSecurity business, we have the systems and expertise to meet the needs of the CDC’s network of nationwide laboratories for biological and chemical threat detection. These labs are on the front lines of protecting public health and Applied Biosystems is committed to supporting their mission.”
Utilizing the API 4000(TM) LC/MS/MS System coupled with validated assays, trained laboratory personnel can screen for and identify an expanded number of chemicals in human blood or urine samples, including mustard agents, nerve agents, and other toxic chemicals. The high sensitivity of the API 4000 LC/MS/MS system makes it an ideal platform for detecting chemical threats in complex samples. By deploying the API 4000 LC/MS/MS Systems, the CDC increases its capacity in state, territorial, and metropolitan public health laboratories to successfully identify chemical agents and exposure levels in victims.
“The CDC’s decision extends Applied Biosystems’ contributions to the Laboratory Response Network beyond biological detection using our real-time PCR genetic analysis systems to a surveillance portfolio that includes chemical detection using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry systems,” said Christopher P. Melancon, Director, BioSecurity, Applied Biosystems. “This portfolio expansion greatly enhances state and local public health preparedness.”
About the API 4000 LC/MS/MS System
Exposure to even trace amounts of chemical agents can put a person’s health in jeopardy. The API 4000 LC/MS/MS System provides maximum sensitivity for detecting chemical threats at extremely low levels in the environment, making it an ideal platform for chemical bioterrorism detection and analysis. Public health laboratories require the ability to identify a chemical agent quickly and with confidence. Using the API 4000 LC/MS/MS System, laboratories can achieve reliable and reproducible results and screen for a wide range of chemical agents in a single test.
About The Laboratory Response Network
The Laboratory Response Network (LRN) was established by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase the nation’s capacity to identify and respond to biological and chemical threats. The CDC’s LRN maintains an integrated network of state and local public health, federal, military, and international laboratories that can respond to bioterrorism, chemical terrorism and other public health emergencies. The LRN is a unique asset in the nation’s growing preparedness for biological and chemical terrorism. More information on the LRN can be found at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/lrn .
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 nearly $1.8 billion during fiscal 2005. The Celera Genomics Group is engaged principally in the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Celera Genomics is leveraging its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics. It is also seeking to advance therapeutic antibody and selected small molecule drug programs in collaboration with global technology and market leaders. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of 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/ .
For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Copyright© 2005. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. Applied Biosystems is a registered trademark and Applera is a trademark of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.
API 4000 is a trademark of Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX, a joint venture between Applera Corporation and MDS Inc.
