Molecular diagnostics group Yourgene is launching its MagBench DNA Extraction solution, to the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Middle East regions. The system is designed to change non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) workflows by offering a cost-efficient, bench-top robotic cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extraction workstation.
According to Yourgene, one of the advantages of the MagBench system is its automation of DNA extraction which reduces the need for manual intervention and minimises the risk of human error.
Yourgene Health's Sage 32 NIPT Workflow runs on Thermo Fisher Scientific's Ion Torrent sequencing platform and allows 32 samples to be processed at the same time. It is compatible with the MagBench system, and the NIPT workflow includes DNA extraction using the MagBench instrument, followed by library preparation, enrichment, sequencing, and Sage Link analysis to estimate the risk of a foetus having trisomy 21, 18 or 13, rare autosomal aneuploidies, sex chromosome aneuploidies and clinically relevant microdeletions.
Dr. Rob Henke, Vice President of Sales for Asia-Pacific at Yourgene Health said: “MagBench enables an economical and automated NIPT workflow. Reducing manual procedures improves user experience, facilitating true walkaway time while minimising the risk of contamination and improving testing accuracy. This decreases the number of screening failures, greatly improves efficiency, and helps lower expectant parents’ anxiety.”
Currently the product isn’t sold in the UK and Europe and according to Yourgene Health is better suited to markets with less regulated environments and labs that use research use only products.
In July 2023 shares for Yourgene Health surged following its buyout from Novacyt UK. Novacyt bought the company for £16.7m ($21.3m) at a price of 0.522p per share and the deal is expected to close this monthfollowing an approval at Court hearing on September 7th.
