Clongen Laboratories, LLC. Announces Availability of First Commercial PCR Assay for Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Blastocystis

06.18.2007   1:00 PM PST

CORVALLIS, OR, June 18 - Clongen Laboratories, LLC of Germantown, Maryland announced the availability of the first commercial research PCR assay for the detection and phylogenetic analysis of Blastocystis.  The assay is designed for research purposes only.

The kit, BlastoFind (TM) is based on a primer sequence developed by Dr. Graham Clark's research group.  Dr. Clark is a noted researcher in protozoal genetics at the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (view abstract of article)

Pricing for the kit is $300 for 100 reactions, $150 for 50 reactions.  For details, contact Dr. Ahmed Kilani at Clongen Labs at 301-916-0173.

About Clongen Laboratories, LLC

Clongen Laboratories, LLC is a biotechnology company that offers a wide range of clinical diagnostic services as well as research contracting and biopharmaceutical testing.  Clongen is a CLIA-registered and licensed in the State of Maryland to perform human clinical testing.  Clongen Laboratories, LLC's newly remodeled facility is conveniently located in Germantown, Maryland.   Clongen offers testing service with over 50 molecular assays, along with a series of custom PCR assays developed by the company.  For questions please call Dr. Ahmed Kilani at 301-916-0173 or Toll Free 877-CLONGEN (256-6436) or  contact Dr. Kilani through their web site: http://www.clongen.com/

About Blastocystis Research Foundation

The Blastocystis Research Foundation (BRF) is a non-profit patient advocacy organization headquartered in Corvallis, Oregon.  BRF works to facilitate research and development to make better diagnostics and treatments available to patients with symptomatic Blastocystis infection.  Blastocystis is currently the most frequently diagnosed parasite in the United States, present in 23% of fecal specimens presented to clinical labs by one recent study.   For more information about BRF, including contacts, refer to the organization's web site, http://www.bhomcenter.org