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April
29, 2009 07:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time 
Applied Biosystems Launches New Tools to Increase Food Safety
through Detection of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes
Source
of Article: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090429005422&newsLang=en
Real-time PCR-based
kits and software improve identification of foodborne pathogens
CARLSBAD,
Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applied
Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE),
today announced the expansion of its portfolio of food safety testing
solutions with new kits and software to improve the detection of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in food. These
new tools, which include MicroSEQ® Pathogen Detection kits,
PrepSEQ™ sample preparation kits and data analysis software,
were developed to enable government agencies and food companies to more
effectively monitor the food supply for contamination to help ensure food
safety.
These
tools deliver the highest standard for next-generation food testing
technology, which is being rapidly deployed to protect consumers from
contaminated food, such as Salmonella-tainted peanut butter,
which recently caused the largest food recall in U.S. history. Salmonella
is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The new tools from Applied Biosystems accelerate the identification of
pathogens, delivering results within hours, compared to days using other
technologies.
The
MicroSEQ® Salmonella spp. Detection Kit and MicroSEQ® Listeria monocytogenes Detection Kit
are enabled by a new innovation that combines fast real-time PCR-based
molecular technology in a lyophilized – or dried – format that reduces the
handling of samples. These kits are part of a complete workflow that is
optimized for use with the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR
System. This is a simple, three-step process that enriches the sample,
prepares the DNA by removing inhibitors with either the PrepSEQ™
Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit or the PrepSEQ™ Rapid Spin Sample
Preparation Kit and runs the test using RapidFinder™ Express
software for improved data analysis.
Leonard
Klevan, Ph.D., President of Applied Biosystems’ Applied Markets Business
“These
new technologies are powerful tools we’ve developed for laboratories around
the world to protect the food supply. By applying genetic-based testing to
address this issue, we are helping government agencies and industry ensure
that the food supply is safer and prevent crises such as the widespread Salmonella
contamination of peanut butter earlier this year.”
Daniel
Fung, Ph.D., Director of Kansas State University’s International Workshop
on Rapid Methods and Automation in Microbiology
“Next-generation
food testing technology is driving significant improvements in accuracy,
reliability and speed of results, which are used to make important
decisions, such as passing or failing batches of food products. The ability
to apply genetic methods to analyze food at the molecular level supports
the greater good of public health, and Applied Biosystems is among the
leaders advancing this effort.”
Additional
Resources
Technical Product Details: Specifications of
the new kits and software
The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance
Network (FoodNet): The principal foodborne disease component of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infections Program
Applied
Biosystems Extends Beyond the Research Laboratory
Applied
Biosystems is a global leader in applying biology to markets beyond
research. These include food & environmental testing, forensic DNA
analysis and bioproduction, contributing to people’s well-being and safety.
Applied Biosystems, along with Invitrogen – a leading provider of platform
independent, essential life science technologies for disease and drug
research, bioproduction and diagnostics – is part of Life Technologies.
Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen products are used in nearly every major
laboratory in the world.
For
more information, please visit: www.appliedbiosystems.com and www.invitrogen.com.
About
Life Technologies
Life
Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company
dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and
services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving
to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life
Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum,
working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular
diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century
forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008,
employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100
countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of
approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was
created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems
Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit
our website: www.lifetechnologies.com.
Life
Technologies’ Safe Harbor Statement
This
press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated
results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information
contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements
as to industry trends and Life Technologies’ plans, objectives,
expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not
statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used,
the words “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target,” “estimate,”
“expect” and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions
(“will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” etc.), or similar expressions, identify
certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could
cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation
to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances.
Copyright
2009. Life Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved. MicroSEQ is a
registered trademark and PrepSEQ and RapidFinder are trademarks of Life Technologies.
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Contacts
Life
Technologies Corporation
Anthony Petrucci, 508-383-7961 (Media)
Technology Public Relations
anthony.b.petrucci@appliedbiosystems.com
or
Amanda Clardy, 760-476-7075 (Investors)
Corporate and Financial Communications
amanda.clardy@lifetech.com
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