The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to Applied Biosystems Inc.’s new 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time PCR Instrument for use in conjunction with the new CDC Human Influenza Virus Real-time RT-PCR Detection and Characterization Panel from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The novel CDC diagnostic assay, along with the 7500 Fast RT- PCR Instrument, is designed to set standards of precision and specificity of diagnostic results for influenza virus testing in the United States. This new test has the power to detect viruses accurately and quickly.

Applied Biosystems’ ultra-high-throughput genomic analysis platform, the SOLID™ System, generates genome-wide expression profiling data at the single cell level. This can help in finding details about cell fate, accelerating the discovery of biomarkers for disease. Ability to generate such profiles of gene activity from single stem can give an idea on variation between molecules of genetically identical stem cells. Detailed characterizations of this kind give scientists a better understanding of the application of these cells in regenerative therapies for damaged cells and organs. The sensitivity of the SOLiD System, which is higher than the currently used micro-array technology, enables researchers to generate detailed gene expression profiles from the trace amounts of RNA present in single cell and cancer samples.