Agilent Technologies Inc. : Agilent Technologies Names National Center for Genome Resources

SANTA CLARA, Calif., and SANTA FE, N.M., Jan. 4, 2012

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that the for next-generation sequencing.

NCGR, a leader in next-generation sequencing and analysis, now provides Agilent exome and custom target-enrichment services along with sequencing and analysis for a wide range of genomics studies. NCGR has a national reputation for sequencing and development of custom bioinformatic resources for research communities. NCGR provides sequencing services using the Illumina and PacBio sequencing platforms. Research services and collaborative programs cover cancer, infectious diseases, inherited childhood diseases, legume biology, crop improvement and population genetics.

SureSelect has been shown to greatly increase the speed and efficiency of next-generation sequencing by enabling researchers to focus experiments on genomic regions of interest rather than sequencing the entire genome. Since it was introduced in 2009, SureSelect has been instrumental in more than 200 published studies covering research into a wide range of heritable disorders and complex diseases.

"SureSelect has contributed significantly to NCGR research efforts already," said Callum Bell, NCGR's vice president for research. "Achieving CSP status is an important step, allowing us to expand our sequencing menu to offer enrichment of genomic regions in conjunction with next-gen sequencing, a service for which there is growing demand."

"NCGR has a very strong record of accomplishment in the sequencing community, and we're pleased that SureSelect is a key part of its sequencing services," said Fred P. Ernani, Ph.D., Agilent marketing director, SureSelect NGS platform.

To achieve Certified Service Provider status, NCGR participated in comprehensive on-site training and then passed a rigorous set of requirements to demonstrate expertise and skill.

The SureSelect portfolio now includes more than 21 products, and many more are in development. Current products include a wide range of catalog and custom offerings. SureSelect products are available for enrichment of target sizes ranging from smaller than 200 Kb to more than 100 Mb in a single tube. The SureSelect workflow can be fully automated with Agilent NGS Workstation, and sample throughput can be increased by multiplexing with 96 indexes.

SureSelect is compatible with major NGS platforms such as Illumina, SOLiD and 454. Users of Agilent's eArray design tool can improve the efficiency of their research by easily designing custom products to target any genomic regions of interest, all in a single tube. SureSelect also allows customization of catalog kits with the addition of custom content.

Agilent recently acquired Halo Genomics, adding HaloPlex target enrichment technology to its portfolio, addressing desktop sequencing and clinical market needs for fast and simple sample-prep solutions. HaloPlex combines the speed and specificity of polymerase chain reaction-based systems with the scalability and capture-size flexibility of solution-based hybridization formats, eliminating the need for library preparation.

About the National Center for Genome Resources

Located in Santa Fe, N.M., the National Center for Genome Resources is a private, nonprofit life sciences research institute. The NCGR mission is to improve human health and nutrition by genome sequencing and analysis. NCGR's objectives are improved diagnosis, control and cure of disease, and better nutrition. More information is available at .

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, electronics and communications. The company's 18,700 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $6.6 billion in fiscal 2011. Information about Agilent is available at .

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Contact:

Stuart Matlow, Agilent
[phone]
[e-mail]

Patricia Mena, NCGR
[phone]
[e-mail]