ReliaGene Technologies Adopts Invitrogen Corporation's ChargeSwitch(R) Nucleic Acid Purification Technology For Forensic Evidence Screening
New Orleans, LA - ReliaGene Technologies, a New Orleans-based human identification testing and research laboratory, and Invitrogen Corporation today announced an agreement to develop a new product for the purification and detection of Y-chromosome DNA in forensic evidence samples.
The companies will co-develop and validate Y-Screen technology, which combines ReliaGene's Y-Detect male-specific DNA recognition system with the ChargeSwitch Forensics DNA Purification Kit from Invitrogen. The Y-Screen system will allow forensic scientists to rapidly purify DNA from forensic evidence with ChargeSwitch technology and detect very small amounts of male DNA in biological evidence with Y-Detect.
"This combination of Invitrogen's ChargeSwitch and ReliaGene's Y-detect technologies will provide forensic scientists with a simple and highly accurate method for screening biological samples for the presence of male DNA," said Dr. Leonard Klevan, CEO of ReliaGene Technologies. "The rapid screening of sexual assault kits and other difficult evidence samples will greatly contribute to the efficiency of forensic DNA analysis."
"We are delighted to enable ReliaGene's novel Y-screen system for forensic evidence samples through our ChargeSwitch nucleic acid purification technology," said Paul Pickering, Nucleic Acid Purification and Quantitation Business Segment Leader for Invitrogen. "With its novel mechanism of action, ChargeSwitch technology eliminates many amplification inhibitors commonly found in traditional purification technologies, providing a rapid solution to the increasingly demanding applications found within the life science, clinical and forensic communities."
Traditional methods of screening for male DNA in sexual assault evidence include alkaline-phosphatase screening, P30 testing (a test for seminal fluid), and microscopy, each of which can yield false positive results. Y-Screen uses a DNA probe that is specific to the male Y chromosome. The product will complement traditional methods and minimize screening errors by significantly reducing false negatives from non-DNA based screening.
"The collaboration with ReliaGene reflects our ongoing effort to extend Invitrogen technologies to new applications," concluded Dr. Claude Benchimol, Senior Vice President, Research and Development for Invitrogen. "As we continue to expand our portfolio to address new applications, partnerships such as this will play a key role in bringing scientific innovation to the realm of human health and safety."
SOURCE: Invitrogen Corporation