Illumina has launched cBot, a new instrument for clonal amplification of sequencing libraries for the Genome Analyzer. The system, which uses pre-packaged reagents, allows users to perform clonal amplification in four hours with less than ten minutes of hands-on time, according to the company.
Correlagen Diagnostics has launched its CardioGeneScan test, a comprehensive genetic test for the diagnosis of familial cardiac disease. The commercial test runs on the Helicos Genetic Analysis system, although it can also be performed on the Illumina Genome Analyzer platform, Correlagen CEO David Margulies told In Sequence via e-mail.
CardioGeneScan tests for disease-causing variation in all genes known to be associated with familial cardiovascular diseases, including cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, thoracic aortic aneurysm, Noonan Syndrome and related diseases, and early-onset coronary artery disease.
Correlagen said that as associations with inherited cardiac disease are demonstrated by researchers and clinicians, the company will add new genes to the test. In addition, result reports will be revised periodically as new knowledge becomes available about the genetics of cardiac disease that impacts the clinical interpretation of previously identified variants.