Affymetrix this week launched its GeneChip HT Array Plate System, a microarray processing platform that analyzes up to 96 samples at a time. The Array Plate System is designed for larger-scale studies and targets large pharmaceutical companies and clinical research laboratories.
The system uses Affy’s GeneChip HT Array Plates, which cover the transcribed human, mouse, and rat genomes in a format that enables researchers to interrogate either 24 or 96 distinct samples at one time. Also included with the system are the GeneChip Array Station for automated target preparation, the GeneChip HT Array Plate Scanner, and GeneChip HT Software Suite.
Illumina last week launched its BeadXpress System. The platform uses Illumina's VeraCode digital microbead technology, and offers high-quality data, broad multiplexing capability, and assay flexibility, the company said (see related story, this issue).
BeadXpress uses a two-color laser-detection capability and is suited for low- to mid-multiplex experiments. Key application areas include biomarker research and validation, pharmaceutical development, industrial testing, agriculture, clinical research, and the development of molecular diagnostic assays, Illumina said.