NanoString Technologies, Inc., a provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, and BD Biosciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, announces a collaboration agreement for the development of a single cell isolation and analysis workflow.

Under the agreement, the companies will jointly develop a workflow using the NanoString nCounter®Analysis System (including the nCounter Single Cell Assay) and the BD Flow Cytometry cell sorter product line (emphasising the new BD FACSJazz™ Cell Sorting System). The combined workflow will enable single cell gene expression analysis for research applications such as oncology, immunology and stem cell research.

"Maximising both the quantity and quality of data that can be extracted from a single cell is critical to the emerging field of single cell biology. The nCounter Analysis System can analyse entire gene pathways and provides a highly precise and reproducible digital output, making it ideally suited to the task," said Brad Gray, President and Chief Executive Officer, NanoString Technologies. "The nCounter Analysis System and the BD FACSJazz Cell Sorting System can together provide a powerful and efficient workflow for single cell gene expression analysis."

"Our collaboration with NanoString Technologies furthers BD’s commitment to providing researchers advanced solutions for cell analysis and isolation," said Alberto Mas, President, BD Biosciences. "We believe this new sorting workflow will complement the recent and very rapid advances in genomic studies that value the requirement for greater sample integrity for critical single cell analysis."

NanoString Technologies nCounter Analysis System is a multi-application digital detection and counting system with a highly automated and simple workflow. The company’s Single Cell Gene Expression application provides researchers with a highly flexible and sensitive approach to discovering differences in cell-to-cell gene expression profiles. The application enables up to 800 genes to be detected in a single tube.

The BD FACSJazz Cell Sorting System is capable of identifying, characterising and isolating single or multiple cells – from complex or extremely rare cell populations, and depositing them in 96- and 384-well plates to provide rapid cell isolation, tracking and identification throughout the process.

For more information:
Websites:
www.nanostring.com
www.bdbiosciences.com/facsjazz
www.nanostring.com
www.bdbiosciences.com/eu/facsjazz