Luminex

Natera and Veracyte both received positive news regarding local coverage determinations from Medicare contractors, while the catalysts for Fluidigm's rise were unclear.

The index — which outperformed the Dow Jones, the Nasdaq, and the Biotechnology Index this month — gained more than 8 percent.

Excluding a loss of business to LabCorp, total revenue increased 22 percent year over year in the fourth quarter, Luminex said.

Among the updates provided at the conference on Wednesday, Luminex discussed development and plans for the Verigene II system, and GenMark touted its ePlex test portfolio.

The firm also posted full-year revenue growth of approximately 3 percent to $315 million, near the top end of its guidance of $310 million to $316 million and above analysts' consensus estimate.

The index fell more than 11 percent in December, underperforming the Dow and the Nasdaq, but performing on par with the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index.

With the acquisition, Luminex has expanded its offering of flow-based detection systems and broadened direct interactions with researchers conducting cellular analysis.

Total revenues were down due to lower assay revenues, which shrank 11 percent from a year ago. Sample-to-answer molecular product revenues grew 15 percent.

Luminex has licensed the XCR Diagnostics Xtreme Chain Reaction nucleic acid amplification technology for an undisclosed amount.

The deal is expected to close by the end of 2018 and to contribute between $40 million and $50 million in revenues to Luminex in 2019.