Cepheid Introduces GeneXpert Infinity-48 System

GeneXpert Infinity-48 is the World's First Fully-Automated Random Access Molecular Diagnostic Testing System; On Display at AACC Meeting

Sunnyvale, CA - Cepheid introduced its GeneXpert Infinity-48 high-throughput system at the 2008 American Association for Clinical Chemistry Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The newest addition to Cepheid's GeneXpert family of molecular diagnostic testing systems delivers the world's first and only fully-automated random access system designed for management of the entire molecular testing workflow. After a sample is loaded into a GeneXpert cartridge, the Infinity-48 System does the rest -- sample in, answer out. The Infinity-48 manages the sample data, cartridge loading and unloading and reporting of test results.

"Cepheid's GeneXpert Infinity-48 System represents the pinnacle of molecular diagnostics automation today," said Cepheid CEO John Bishop. "With an expanding pipeline of on-demand tests in the Infectious Disease, Oncology, and Genetic Disease markets, the Infinity Series of Systems is positioned to become the platform of choice for high-throughput laboratories."

Cepheid's GeneXpert Infinity-48 System uses robotic cartridge handling, managed by Cepheid's Xpertise software package and full touch screen driven menu, to run up to 1,300 different molecular tests during any 24-hour period, depending upon test selection. With each of the system's 48 testing modules managed as an independent testing site, the Infinity-48 System can start test runs anytime samples are collected -- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Delivering true walk away ease-of-use, the Infinity-48 System is positioned to improve workflow while further accelerating time-to-result, enabling healthcare providers to make more informed patient management and treatment decisions.

The Infinity-48 System can be configured with 16, 24, 32, 40, or 48 modules. To handle the current, and future, testing needs of any organization the system can be upgraded with additional modules in blocks of eight.

Cepheid's Xpertise software integrates with Laboratory Information System (LIS) and Hospital Information System (HIS) networks to provide communication for all incoming and outgoing test orders and results.

Availability
Shipments of the GeneXpert Infinity-48 System are expected to begin in December of 2008.

About the GeneXpert Molecular Diagnostic System
The GeneXpert System is a closed, self-contained, fully-integrated and automated platform that represents a paradigm shift in the automation of molecular analysis, producing accurate results in a timely manner with minimal risk of contamination. The GeneXpert System is the only system to combine on- board sample preparation with real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification and detection functions for fully integrated and automated nucleic acid analysis. The system is designed to purify, concentrate, detect and identify targeted nucleic acid sequences thereby delivering answers directly from unprocessed samples. Modular in design, the GeneXpert System has a variety of configurations to meet the broad range of testing demands of any clinical environment.

About Cepheid Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) is an on-demand molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures, and markets fully- integrated systems for genetic analysis in the clinical, industrial and biothreat markets. The company's systems enable rapid, sophisticated genetic testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases by automating otherwise complex manual laboratory procedures. The company's easy-to-use systems integrate a number of complicated and time-intensive steps, including sample preparation, DNA amplification and detection, which enable the analysis of complex biological samples in its proprietary test cartridges. Through its strong molecular biology capabilities, the company is focusing on those applications where rapid molecular testing is particularly important, such as identifying infectious disease and cancer in the clinical market; food, agricultural, and environmental testing in the industrial market; and identifying bio-terrorism agents in the biothreat market.

SOURCE: Cepheid