Plexpress and MediSapiens this week launched their collaborative OncoTRAC Gene Expression Service.
Users of the service gain access to MediSapiens' IST Online gene expression database to identify relevant genes of interest. After this discovery phase, Plexpress' TRAC gene expression analysis platform is used to assay the expression of a selected 30-gene panel in a large number of samples.
The companies said the service supports customer projects from gene discovery through to validation and in-depth study, and across drug development, biomarker discovery, and life science research applications.
Plexpress' TRAC platform relies on a set of amplifiable detection probes and biotinylated oligo-capture probes that are hybridized in solution. The resulting sandwich hybrids are collected on magnetic streptavidin-coated microparticles and washed. The hybridized probes are then eluted and detected with laser-induced fluorescence and capillary electrophoresis. TRAC has been adapted to work in a 96-well format, allowing users to profile the expression of 30 genes in each well, according to the company.