Agilent's microarrays used in landmark study on prenatal samples

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced its microarrays were used in a landmark research study on prenatal samples. The three-year study was designed to evaluate the accuracy, efficacy and potential advantages of using microarray analysis as compared with conventional karyotyping. Agilent SurePrint CGH microarrays and analysis software were used for the majority sample cohort of 4,400 samples.

Researchers from Emory University, Baylor College of Medicine, Columbia University and Signature Genomics took part in the study. The results were presented last week at a meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. One part of the study focused on the comparison with karyotypes. A second part focused on evaluating analytical performance.

The research study represents a significant milestone in understanding prenatal abnormalities.

Agilent was the primary contributor of microarrays and reagents to this study, as 71 percent of samples were run on Agilent SurePrint CGH microarrays, with Agilent software used for data analysis. Agilent assisted the investigators from the prenatal study group in developing the arrays used in the study.

"This landmark research study on prenatal samples will have long-lasting implications to the research community," said Dr. Laird Jackson, professor, Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drexel University College of Medicine. "Microarrays allowed us to detect smaller aberrations compared to traditional karyotyping."

A total of 5,500 arrays were used. The majority of the samples were uncultured amniotic fluid and chorionic villi. All samples were also sent to a reference lab for chromosome analysis. All data will be submitted to National Center for Biotechnology Information and will be available to the community free of charge. Agilent microarrays are not cleared or approved for use in diagnostic procedures.