INDUSTRY

SAN CARLOS, CA -- GeneMachines(R), a leading genomics and proteomics automation provider, today announced that the new RevPrep Orbit(TM) workstation achieved successful results in beta tests of its nucleic acid purification capabilities. The RevPrep Orbit automates genomic sample preparation, a process that, when undertaken manually, is repetitive, labor intensive and costly. By using the new RevPrep Orbit, laboratories can both increase throughput and decrease cost. GeneMachines beta partner, the Berkeley Laboratory's Drosophila Genome Center, incorporated RevPrep Orbit into its around-the-clock DNA purification schedule. No protocol optimization efforts were made to accommodate the RevPrep Orbit in the Berkeley Lab production line. During unattended production, Berkeley Lab purified 24 96-well plates of plasmids with set-up occurring once in the morning and once again before leaving for the day. This throughput is easily handled by the RevPrep Orbit. When judged against the competition, the RevPrep Orbit had fewer lane failures, fewer failed plates, and comparable read lengths. Reed George, Manager of the Technology Development Group at the Berkeley Laboratory praised both performance and cost savings, "The RevPrep Orbit system has consistently yielded high quality DNA in our sequencing operations and has had a major impact in our cost reduction efforts." The RevPrep Orbit workstation features the unique Array Centrifuge(TM) technology, exclusively licensed from Stanford University (SUTECH(R), a trademark of Stanford Genome Technology Center). The Array Centrifuge contains 96 individual rotors, within which occur all necessary sample-processing steps. A validated alkaline lysis prep protocol provides purified DNA of optimized yield and purity for compatibility with capillary electrophoresis sequencers. The foremost advantage of this technology over conventional filter-based preparation methods is the significant cost savings; no disposables such as filter plates are required. The RevPrep Orbit workstation is the newest addition to the GeneSuite(R) product line of automated solutions, serving the needs of genomics and proteomics researchers. For more information visit www.genemachines.com