Fluidigm Announces BioMark(TM) System as the New Standard for High-Throughput Real-Time PCR

Fluidigm Corporation has introduced the new BioMark system based
on unique nanofluidic chips for real-time PCR. Accordingly, the
Company has invited scientists engaged in quantitative gene analysis
to a web-based event on Thursday, May 10, at 3:00 PM, London time. The
event includes a short presentation by Fluidigm director of R&D, Dr.
Marc Unger, and panelist Dr. Rick Gerren of Source MDx, who is a
BioMark system user. Those interested are asked to enroll at the
following link:
https://fluidigm.webex.com/fluidigm/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=807956919.

The chips are known as dynamic arrays, and have important
advantages compared to 96-well plates, including the following:

-- Twenty-four times the number of PCR assays per run.

-- Significant reductions in reagent costs.

-- Far less liquid-handling complexity to implement large-scale
studies.

The BioMark system is of particular value to scientists who need
to simplify the quantitative analysis of 50 to 100 genes against a
large number of samples. BioMark dynamic arrays are tailored for
multiplexed gene expression analyses, i.e., for the parallel testing
of many samples against many genes. The array generates 2,304 PCR
reactions, requiring orders of magnitude less reagent and liquid
transfer steps than traditional formats.

The system also runs BioMark digital arrays, which enable "digital
PCR" -- a term established in the scientific literature -- which is
essential for detection of nucleic acid mutations in a high background
of similar sequences. Whereas the practice of digital PCR in
microplates has been impractical, it is simple and reliable in
Fluidigm digital arrays.

About Fluidigm

Fluidigm Corporation develops and distributes systems based on the
unique properties of integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs) to precisely
control fluids on a nanoliter volume scale. The Company's vision is to
create and to lead a new industry in which IFCs bring unparalleled
efficiencies to the life science and allied fields. Based in South San
Francisco, California, the Company is privately held and backed by
premier investors: Versant Ventures, Euclid SR Partners, InterWest
Partners, Alloy Ventures, Lehman Brothers Healthcare Fund, Bio*One
Capital, Bruce Burrows, Lilly BioVentures, the Invus Group, SightLine
Partners, AllianceBernstein, Wasatch Advisors and its affiliate, Cross
Creek Capital, and GE Equity.