Illumina Introduces HumanHap550 Genotyping BeadChip
New HumanHap BeadChips Expand Genomic Coverage with Industry-Leading Performance
San Diego - Illumina, Inc. announced that it has introduced two new Sentrix HumanHap Genotyping BeadChips for conducting genome-wide association research. The first product, the HumanHap550 BeadChip, contains over 550,000 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) markers on a single microarray and provides the most comprehensive genomic coverage of any product currently available. A second product, the HumanHap240S BeadChip, when used in combination with Illumina's existing HumanHap300 BeadChip, enables customers to expand the genomic coverage to the same level provided by the HumanHap550 single-chip solution. The HumanHap240S is available for immediate shipment and the HumanHap550 will be available in the next four weeks.
HumanHap BeadChips are powered by the Company's revolutionary Infinium assay method, which enables Illumina to select SNPs that have the highest per-marker information value, resulting in comprehensive genomic coverage with fewer SNP markers than competing approaches. Each of the new HumanHap550 BeadChips will contain roughly 555,000 markers derived principally from so-called "tagSNPs" identified and validated in both phases of the International HapMap Project, which was completed in October 2005.
TagSNPs deliver high information value to geneticists because they serve as "proxies" for larger groups of SNPs, called haplotypes, which are inherited together. Researchers can analyze human populations comprehensively and efficiently by examining between 250,000 and 500,000 tagSNPs instead of the entire set of roughly 10 million SNPs -- opening doors to genome-wide disease association studies now in progress. Sentrix HumanHap BeadChips are the only whole-genome genotyping arrays with tagSNP-centric content.
In addition to comprehensive genomic coverage, HumanHap BeadChips offers the highest data quality of any genotyping array currently available, with call rates that routinely exceed 99%, reproducibility and accuracy approaching 100%. Market uptake of Illumina's HumanHap BeadChips has been strong, and Illumina's whole-genome genotyping solutions have become important discovery tools for researchers seeking to understand the genetic basis of common, yet complex diseases.
The new Sentrix HumanHap BeadChips are part of Illumina's growing genotyping portfolio that includes whole-genome arrays, focused-content arrays and SNP panels, and powerful assay protocols such as the GoldenGate and Infinium assays. Illumina also works with customers to install robust infrastructure solutions, including automation and LIMS (laboratory information management systems) for large-scale sample throughput, positive sample tracking, and data analysis and management.
"The development of the HumanHap550 leveraged the infrastructure that we built as part of our 100K and 300K programs allowing us to quickly bring to market a BeadChip with the industry's highest genomic coverage for whole-genome genotyping," stated Jay Flatley, Illumina President and CEO. "We believe that the launch of the HumanHap550 will further fuel the explosive growth of this market," Flatley concluded.
SOURCE: Illumina, Inc.