PerkinElmer Achieves Milestone in Global Deployment of Specialized Information Management Solution for Genetic Screening Laboratories

PerkinElmer, Inc., a global technology leader in Health Sciences and Photonics, today announced that Specimen Gate^®, its specialized information management solution for genetic screening laboratories, has been deployed across more than 70 countries, states and provinces worldwide. The Specimen Gate product portfolio is a critical element of both neonatal and prenatal screening programs, many of which are implemented at the state or national levels of countries around the world, resulting in the identification of thousands of infants at risk of genetic disease each year. As genetic screening programs continue to expand globally, and the demand for world-class information management systems grows, PerkinElmer expects Specimen Gate-based installations to double by 2010.

The Specimen Gate product portfolio is a clinically validated informatics solution developed specifically for genetic screening laboratories. The software offers innovative information technology tools and methodologies that allow for the electronic tracking of laboratory workflow, enabling PerkinElmer customers to expand their screening programs while minimizing errors and reducing costs. Specimen Gate complements PerkinElmer's comprehensive neonatal and prenatal screening systems, which include instruments, reagents, software and consumables.

"PerkinElmer has supplied comprehensive solutions to genetic screening laboratories worldwide for more than 20 years, and has leveraged its unmatched expertise in this market to develop an informatics tool that truly meets the unique needs of genetic screening testing labs," said Robert F. Friel, chief executive officer and president, PerkinElmer, Inc. "As genetic screening continues to expand across the globe, we remain committed to supporting these programs with leading technology to allow for early detection of potentially life-threatening disorders."

The advent of advanced, high-throughput screening technologies worldwide is making it possible for laboratories to dramatically increase the amount of testing they do. However, as the volume of testing increases, so does the complexity of data management. As a result, a growing number of laboratories are demanding scalable software solutions that can accommodate the vast amount of data from modern genetic screening programs. For these customers, PerkinElmer's Specimen Gate portfolio offers a robust, flexible and customizable solution built specifically to manage the unique screening laboratory workflow.

PerkinElmer has witnessed accelerated adoption of its advanced informatics solution in most parts of the world, with neonatal screening installations in Canada (University of Alberta), Saudi Arabia (King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre), and Sweden (Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset Huddinge) during the past year. Samples from 3.5 million babies worldwide are currently processed through PerkinElmer's Specimen Gate software each year. In addition, PerkinElmer informatics solutions serve as the foundation of prenatal screening programs for a growing number of countries, such as the Netherlands, which has installed 12 Specimen Gate-based prenatal screening systems to date.