Illumina Announces the HumanHT-12 Gene Expression BeadChip

Illumina, Inc., at its Annual North American User Group Meeting, introduced the HumanHT-12 BeadChip, a twelve sample product designed to accelerate whole genome expression and expression-based Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL) studies.

The HumanHT-12 BeadChip includes over 48,000 probes per sample and is priced at $75, supporting a total cost of $100 per sample including labeling reagents. Illumina expects to commence shipment of this new product in the second quarter 2008.

"The HumanHT-12 BeadChip is a powerful new product that will enable high-throughput whole-genome expression and eQTL analysis at exceptional price points. Along with the HumanWG-6, which offers the industry's highest quality whole-genome expression data, the HumanHT-12 will provide gene expression researchers with the most flexible and cost effective screening tool," said Tristan Orpin, Illumina's Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations.

"Additionally, the HumanHT-12 will allow researchers to enhance their genomics studies by the economical addition of eQTL data. The ability to cost effectively complement large-scale genotyping studies with gene expression profiles will allow researchers to gain additional important insights into the relationship between genotypes and phenotypic profiles," Orpin added.

The introduction of the HumanHT-12 BeadChip further enhances Illumina's suite of gene expression products, which includes sequencing-based assays for discovery and typing of transcripts, alternative splice forms, and small and microRNA's, and array-based assays for rapid and cost effective profiling of expression in human, rat, and mouse.

The HumanHT-12 BeadChip provides the same content as that of the HumanWG-6 BeadChip, and researchers using the HumanHT-12 can expect to measure data from greater than 99.99 percent of the probe sets for each sample. To accelerate the use of the HumanHT-12 as a component of genotyping studies, Illumina says that it will offer special pricing to customers ordering both its Infinium Genotyping BeadChips and its HumanHT-12 BeadChips.