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Analytik Jena Develops Innovative Technology for the Highly Efficient Enrichment of Free-Circulating DNA

Jena (Germany), January 10, 2014 — After a two year period of development Analytik Jena has launched an innovative technology to enrich and isolate free-circulating DNA. Free-circulating DNA occurs in plasma, serum, and urine, among other things, but only in small fragments and very low concentrations. In order to isolate them, large sample volumes and large quantities of reagents had been needed until now. The kit developed by the Analytik Jena subsidiary AJ Innuscreen GmbH in Berlin-Buch is based on polymer-mediated enrichment (PME) technology. The cell-free DNA of the sample is combined with a polymer and then concentrated. The resulting DNA-polymer complex can be processed by means of a simple DNA extraction method.

With this new technology, Analytik Jena AG is opening up new diagnostic possibilities with enormous potential and various applications. The new enrichment and isolation method is for example used in tumor diagnostics. Circulating cell-free DNA is also gaining increasing significance in pre-natal diagnostics, the diagnosis of metabolic diseases, or sports medicine.

With far fewer steps, the process is efficient, can be performed very quickly, and reduces the amount of reagents that must be used. Thus isolate free-circulating DNA is provided much easier,” said Alexander Berka, General Manager of the Life Science business unit at Analytik Jena AG.