Agilent Introduces Next-Generation FISH Assays

Agilent Technologies Inc. has introduced Agilent SureFISH probes, the next generation of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assays, delivering a comprehensive menu of the industry's highest resolution probes for a wide range of molecular analysis applications.

Agilent SureFISH probes deliver dramatically better performance compared to existing FISH products.

SureFISH probes enable users to specifically detect aberrations in regions of the genome as small as 50kb, as well as aberrations near highly repetitive regions.

They provide higher resolution and faster hybridization times than competing technologies and are designed to enable users to meet American College of Medical Genetics guidelines for clinical cytogenetics.

"Based on our experience with Agilent high-resolution oligo FISH, it is apparent the oligo design methodology for SureFISH will be a powerful tool for analysis of previously difficult genomic regions," said early access user Shashikant Kulkarni, M.S., Ph.D., FACMG, head of Clinical Genomics and medical director, Cytogenomics and Molecular Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis.

Manufactured at Agilent's Cedar Creek, Texas, facility, which is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a medical device establishment, Agilent SureFISH probes are Class I Analyte Specific Reagents. They are manufactured under Quality Standard Regulations and current Good Manufacturing Practices.

"We're making a major impact in the cytogenetics community with a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance products that enable cytogenetic researchers to choose a molecular analysis method that best fits their needs," said Robert Schueren, Agilent vice president and general manager, Genomics.

Schueren continued, "Our comprehensive cytogenetics portfolio includes SureFISH probes, CGH and CGH+SNP arrays, scanner and Agilent CytoGenomics software. Customers now have a single source for all their cytogenetics needs."

Agilent offers an extensive menu of FISH probes for constitutional and cancer applications.

The initial menu includes hundreds of SureFISH probes for the most common regions, to accommodate a wide range of cytogenetic research needs.

Agilent plans to introduce additional SureFISH probes later this year. Customers can easily select SureFISH probes at the new SureFISH website: www.agilent.com/genomics/SureFISH.

The SureFISH chromosome browser facilitates probe selection and online purchase.

The site also includes images of all probes hybridized at four and 14 hours, allowing users to see the probe performance prior to purchase.