Progenika to provide blood group genotyping reference laboratory services to ARUP

Progenika, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with ARUP Laboratories (ARUP) of Salt Lake City, UT, to provide blood group genotyping reference laboratory services to ARUP to determine patient red blood cell antigen profiles when serology has logistic and functional limitations. Progenika’s blood group genotyping microarray, which simultaneously detects over 100 genetic variants in the nine blood group systems that are most relevant to transfusion safety, overcomes these serological limitations.

Progenika’s blood group genotyping supports disease management for patients whose condition requires chronic transfusions. It allows for the accurate identification of red blood cell antigens in patient serum, even in the presence of auto- or allo-antibodies, whether these antigens are common or rare, highly or poorly antigenic, or abundantly or weakly expressed. Blood group genotyping is useful for patients with conditions such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in which red blood cells are coated with immunoglobulins (DAT+) that interfere with the antibodies used for serotyping. It is also useful for individuals with genetic diseases that require frequent transfusions, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, who may develop antibodies to low-immunogenicity antigens present on donor red blood cells. For these particular patients, precise identification of genetic variants early on will facilitate blood matching in subsequent transfusions. Progenika’s genotyping may also be used for individuals who have RhD variants with low antigen expression or with reduced numbers of antigenic epitopes, where serotyping may yield inconclusive calls.

“We are very excited about our relationship with ARUP,” said Joyce Samet, Progenika’s Chief Operating Officer, “as it will allow hospitals and health care facilities served by ARUP to access the most comprehensive blood group genotyping testing available to deliver better care for their transfused patients.” In addition, Ms. Samet stated that “this agreement is part of our strategy to work with leading laboratories to facilitate broader distribution of our testing.”

“Our relationship with Progenika enables ARUP to offer this innovative and highly complex testing to our clients to ease blood matching for patients requiring frequent transfusions,” said Noriko Kusukawa, Ph.D., Vice President and Director of New Technology and Licensing at ARUP Laboratories. Dr. Kusukawa added, “We are very pleased to include this testing as part of our comprehensive menu of services and to be able to offer the consultative support needed to incorporate it effectively into clinical practice.”

ARUP Laboratories will begin performing Progenika’s blood group genotyping on November 16, 2009, under ARUP’s test number 2002389.