The HumanHT-12 BeadChip includes over 48,000 probes per sample and is priced at $75, supporting a total cost of $100 per sample including labeling reagents. Illumina expects to commence shipment of this new product in the second quarter of 2008.
The introduction of the HumanHT-12 BeadChip is said to further enhance Illumina’s suite of gene expression products, which includes sequencing-based assays for discovery and typing of transcripts, alternative splice forms, and small and microRNA’s, and array-based assays for rapid and cost effective profiling of expression in human, rat, and mouse.
Tristan Orpin, Illumina’s senior vice president of commercial operations, said: “The HumanHT-12 BeadChip is a powerful new product that will enable high-throughput whole-genome expression and eQTL analysis at exceptional price points. Additionally, the HumanHT-12 will allow researchers to enhance their genomics studies by the economical addition of eQTL data.”