BC Platforms BC|RQUEST

Bluebee has announced the release of its Bluebase assay, which is designed to run on the Bluebee core data analysis platform and provides post-sequencing intelligent data aggregation, ease of querying, and deep knowledge mining. The technology aggregates, organizes, and stores combined genomic data sets, phenotypes, and other metadata from a group of public and private databases. Bluebase allows for a range of applications, including discovery and validation of biomarkers, insight into patient stratification approaches, cross-study analyses by multidisciplinary teams, and identification of drug candidates for clinical trials. BlueBee noted that Bluebase is targeted toward diagnostic assay developers, pharmaceutical researchers, clinical trial operators, and investigators of population-scale initiatives. 

Veracyte has launched its Afirma Xpression Atlas test for thyroid cancer. The test uses RNA sequencing to analyze 761 DNA variants and 130 RNA fusions in over 500 genes that have been linked to thyroid cancer. The test's aim is to provide information to help clinicians make surgery and treatment decisions for patients who have thyroid nodules.

Interpace Diagnostics said it is launching ThyGenNext, a mutational panel for indeterminate thyorid nodules, at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists annual meeting this week. ThyGeNext builds on the company's ThyGenX panel (launched in August 2014) by adding numerous molecular markers, gene mutations, and RNA fusions, resulting in a more comprehensive set of indicators to identify malignant or benign nodules and ascertain aggressiveness and other characteristics. Specifically, it uses next-generation sequencing to identify more than 150 genetic alterations assciated with papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas, the two most common forms of thyroid cancer.

Karius has launched a quantitative version of its next-generation sequencing-based test that identifies microbial cell-free DNA in blood. According to the company, the test can identify DNA from more than 1,000 pathogens including bacteria, DNA viruses, fungi, mold, and protozoa.

Bio-Rad Laboratories has launched the Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine Screening Panel, a multiplex assay that can identify and quantify 48 different analytes linked to heart disease, autoimmunity and allergy, cancer, and other conditions.

The panel detects targets related to adaptive immunity cytokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and anti-inflammatory cytokines, all in a single well. It is available in a 96-well kit format that includes premixed magnetic capture beads and detection antibodies, multiplexed standards and controls, secondary antibodies for fluorescence detection, and buffers. The panel is compatible with the Bio-Plex MAGPIX Multiplex Reader, Bio-Plex 200 and Bio-Plex 3D Multiplex Immunoassay Systems, LX200 Instrument, and Flexmap 3D System, and data can be managed and analyzed using Bio-Plex Manager and Bio-Plex Data Pro Software.

Agilent Technologies introduced a number of in situ hybridization probes, including the EBER RNA CISH, Kappa, and Lambda mRNA CISH probes for Dako Omnis. Additionally, a manual IQFISH panel for lymphoma was launched following its CE marking. 

The EBER RNA CISH, Kappa, and Lambda mRNA CISH releases increase the diagnostic capabilities of the Dako Omnis instrument, which can now be used to simultaneously run tests involving CISH, FISH, and immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, the IQFISH panel is a set of oligonucleotide-based FISH probes for detecting rearrangements involving the MYC, CBL2, BCL6, MALT1, CCND1, and IGH genes. The probes are for use on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections, Agilent said, adding they are available in break-apart and dual-fusion methodologies.