What is Electrophoresis?

<%=company1%> manufactures and distributes products used in a molecular separation process known as electrophoresis, a procedure used in more than 55,000 research, industrial and clinical laboratories worldwide. The more common applications of this procedure include protein separations such as the HDL and LDL components of total cholesterol and the identification of various genes and gene products (e.g. DNA, RNA, etc.). A variety of techniques, formats, materials, compounds, equipment and devices are employed in electrophoresis and Zaxis provides products to meet these needs. The primary focus of the Company's research and development efforts as well as its sales and marketing efforts is targeted toward the consumables segment of this market. The Zaxis core product lines are the pre-cast gels and reagents used for these electrophoresis procedures.

Electrophoresis was discovered in the 1930s and has been growing in usage for more than fifty years. It has been reported that eighty percent of all life-science researchers in the United States use electrophoresis as a laboratory tool. Laboratory applications cover a broad spectrum, including medical diagnostics, immunology, agriculture, criminology, forensics, pharmaceuticals, quality assurance and DNA and RNA research. A simplified explanation of the process describes it as the application of molecularly disassembled specimens, such as bacteria, blood serum, body tissue or plant tissue, to a gel substance that is then subjected to electric current while submerged in a liquid filled chamber. The sample material protein molecules are deposited on the gel substance in a unique pattern that can be compared to other samples to determine similarities or differences. The pattern of molecules is popularly referred to as a "bar code" of living matter.

The accuracy, quality and usefulness of the information obtained from electrophoresis analysis are dependent upon a number of factors including the consistency, reliability and quality of the medium in which these molecular separations occur. Zaxis' pre-cast gels and reagents meet these requirements while providing the researcher, technician and/or clinician with substantial cost savings and the convenience of not having to formulate and quality control gels and reagents made in their own laboratory.

Generally, gels are made from one of two materials, a natural plant-based substance called agarose or an acrylamide-based substance. Agarose gels are usually limited to use with proteins of large molecular sizes. Polyacrylamide gels are available in mass produced pre-cast cassettes or may be manually prepared one at a time. Zaxis' pre-cast gels offer the advantages of convenience, reliability, consistency and high quality to the researcher, technician and/or clinician. With today's market emphasis on productivity and quality, Zaxis' pre-cast gel products are well positioned to respond to these market requirements. The value and validity of the information received from electrophoresis analysis depends on the clarity and consistency of the results (or resolution), which is dependent upon a variety of factors, including consistency of manufacturing materials and methods for the reagents and gels.

Zaxis' core product is a pre-cast polyacrylamide gel cassette developed through its in-house research utilizing proprietary polymer chain length control ("PCL") technology. The gel cassettes can be used with Zaxis' proprietary electrophoresis devices or with devices of other manufacturers. The Zaxis product line includes electrophoresis systems and components, chemicals, compounds, stains, reagents, chambers, power supplies, computers, scanners, and accessories in addition to gel cassettes. The gel cassettes, chemical compounds and many of the acrylic components are manufactured or assembled by Zaxis in its facility, while the microprocessor components, scanners, power supplies and other system components are manufactured to Zaxis' specifications by other companies.