Agena Bioscience to Present Enabling Solutions for Molecular Blood Group Genotyping at AABB 2015

SAN DIEGO, Calif., Oct. 20, 2015 — Agena Bioscience™ today announced expanded use of its MassARRAY^® System for High Throughput Molecular Blood Group Genotyping.

“Large scale genotyping provides a reliable, cost-effective method for comprehensive donor antigen typing in immunohematology laboratories. The MassARRAY System provides an open platform for assay development, enabling blood centers to develop and validate tests for rapid and accurate blood donor characterization,” said Pete Dansky, CEO.

With thirty-five major blood group systems—including Rh systems—recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion, both comprehensive and specific testing may be required depending upon the blood centers’ needs for antigen-negative and rare donors. The MassARRAY System has been used to identify and resolve a number of blood group systems including MNS, Kell, Lewis, Kidd, and more rare Rhesus D variants.

Agena Bioscience will host an industry workshop with speakers from the American Red Cross and BloodCenter of Wisconsin at the upcoming American Association of Blood Banks, October 26, 2015.

“We are pleased that molecular immunohematology laboratories are adopting high throughput screening methods using the MassARRAY System,” said Dansky. “Molecular laboratories have been validating its capabilities and are now implementing the technology for routine use.”

The MassARRAY System by Agena Bioscience provides a mid-plex technology for targeted profiling of 10s to 100s of genetic markers. The system offers a practical solution for today’s translational and clinical research labs with improvements in cost, throughput, and ease of use over alternative methods. The MassARRAY System is used in 37 countries worldwide with an installed base of 350+ systems.
 

About Agena Bioscience

Agena Bioscience develops, manufactures, and supplies genetic analysis systems and reagents, including the MassARRAY System. The system is a highly sensitive, cost-effective, mass spectrometry-based platform for high-throughput genetic analysis, and is used globally in diverse research fields such as cancer profiling for solid tumors and liquid biopsies, inherited genetic disease testing, pharmacogenetics, agricultural genomics, and clinical research.  The MassARRAY System is intended for research use only, and not intended for use in diagnostic procedures.