Agilent Technologies and Midwest Research Institute
Announce Project in Homeland Security, Biodefense
PALO ALTO, Calif. & KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb 2, 2005 -- Agilent Technologies
Inc. (A) and Midwest Research Institute (MRI), a leading center for
biological and chemical defense research in the United States, today
announced a project to evaluate instrumentation for use in the areas of
homeland security and biodefense.
Agilent provided MRI with the Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer and Agilent 5100
automated lab on a chip in order to evaluate the capability of the
analytical instruments in high-throughput pathogen detection. In return, MRI
provided feedback on the performance of these instruments in biodefense
applications.
As part of this project, MRI's scientists and engineers have worked with
Agilent's product development team to evaluate the performance of the
Agilent 5100, testing it in field conditions where it was subjected to a
level of real-world demand not available in Agilent's development labs.
"Based on our evaluation, we've concluded that the Agilent 5100 automated
LOC platform is a promising instrument for automated high-throughput sample
screening in biodefense applications," said Steve Lufkin, MRI's senior vice
president of technology and strategic business development.
MRI put the instrument through the rigorous paces of its high-throughput
monitoring of biological-threat agents using its multiplexing PCR
(polymerase chain reaction). Multiplexing PCR provides for the detection of
multiple DNA signatures associated with a single agent or multiple agents.
During the evaluation, nearly 1,500 PCR assays were run using about 500
environmental samples.
"Multiplexing PCR is definitely on the radar screen of the industry involved
in biodefense analysis work," said Lufkin. "Within the biodefense
environment, there is an urgent need to balance accuracy with the cost and
speed of collecting and analyzing volumes of critical information. It is
essential to have bioanalysis equipment, such as the Agilent 5100, that
makes full use of our multiplexing capabilities."
About Midwest Research Institute
Midwest Research Institute (MRI) is an independent, not-for-profit
laboratory that has conducted scientific research for government and
industry since 1944. Its programs span the areas of national security and
defense, life sciences, energy, engineering, and agriculture and food
safety. MRI has managed and operated the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy since 1977. Headquartered in
Kansas City, Mo., MRI has additional laboratories in Florida and Maryland.
More information is available at
www.mriresearch.org.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (A) is a global technology leader in
communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. Agilent
had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about
Agilent is available on the Web at
www.agilent.com.
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SOURCE: Agilent Technologies Inc.
Agilent
Victor Truong, 408-553-7113
victor_truong@agilent.com
or
MRI
Linda Cook, 816-360-1943
lcook@mriresearch.org
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