Norgen Biotek Transitions into Diagnostics with the Launch of over 30 New Kits for Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostics

March 18, 2010 | Thorold, ON
Norgen Biotek Corp., an innovative privately held Canadian biotechnology company focusing primarily on advancing powerful tools for nucleic acids (NA) and protein purification, today announced the launch of over 30 new kits for nucleic-acid based diagnostics. Norgen makes best-in-class kits for NA and protein sample preparation, and has recognized that high quality sample preparation is the key to high quality diagnostics. Norgen’s new basket of diagnostic kits includes kits for the diagnosis of human pathogens such as: HPV, HIV, HSV-1 & 2, HBV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea; food-borne pathogens such as: Listeria, Salmonella, Streptococcus species, etc and plant pathogens such as: Plum Pox Virus (PPV), Aspergillus, Penicillium, Boytritis, etc. In terms of diagnostic kits for the human pathogens, particular attention has been paid to the development of kits based on non-invasive sample preparation. Non-invasive sample collection offers a number of distinct benefits for diagnostics, and therefore the first kits which Norgen plans to obtain regulatory approval for are the urine-based pathogen detection kits. For a more comprehensive list of the newly launched kits, please visit www.norgenbiotek.com.

Norgen’s diagnostic kits are complete kits that include all the components for the isolation of high quality inhibitor-free NA, as well as the required master mixes and controls to allow for PCR amplification and detection. The kits combine both sensitivity and specificity of detection, and include controls to eliminate false negatives and problematic isolations. Initially, these kits are for research use only and are ideal for use in surveillance of drug resistant pathogens, epidemiological studies, field surveillance of pathogens, and surveys.

“The transition of our powerful NA isolation technology into diagnostics is a natural extension for us. The quality of a diagnostic kit is only as good as the quality of the sample, and as leaders in sample preparation we are in an ideal position to make this transition.” said Dr. Haj-Ahmad, President & CEO of Norgen Biotek. “We make best-in-class kits for the isolation of high quality RNA, DNA and proteins from urine, and therefore we extended our expertise and developed our new line of urine-based diagnostic kits for the detection of human pathogens that are traditionally detected in blood or plasma. These kits will become invaluable tools for non-invasive urine-based diagnostics” added Dr. Haj-Ahmad.

About Norgen Biotek Corp.
Norgen Biotek, an ISO 13485:2003 and ISO 9001:2008 registered company, is a rapidly growing privately-held Canadian biotech company committed to providing innovative products and services to the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry. Norgen has developed technologies and products for the purification of nucleic acids and proteins on both preparative and industrial scales, including ready-to-use chromatography resins and pre-packed chromatography columns. Norgen is seeking partners to conduct clinical testing and obtain regulatory approvals for their new line of non-invasive diagnostic kits, as well as other modalities of business opportunities.

For further information contact:
Dr. Yousef Haj-Ahmad, President & CEO,
Norgen Biotek Corp.,
Phone: (905) 227-8848,
Fax: (905) 227-1061,
Email: yha@norgenbiotek.com