Abbott Laboratories announced a worldwide distribution agreement with South San Francisco-based Atria Genetics, Inc., doing business as forensic analytical/molecular genetics, for a line of tests for defining human leukocyte antigens (HLA) used for identifying potential donors in the matching process for bone marrow transplantation. These tests also have application in vaccine studies, infectious disease studies, as well as for anthropology and other studies.

Under the agreement, Abbott has exclusive marketing and distribution rights outside the United States for Atria's AlleleSEQR HLA DNA sequencing-based typing products, including tests for important class I and class II HLA genes. Additionally, Abbott has exclusive marketing and distribution rights for HLA analyte specific reagents (ASRs) in the US. Abbott will distribute these products through its alliance with Celera Diagnostics, LLC. Celera Diagnostics, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a joint venture between the Applied Biosystems Group and Celera Genomics Group of Applera Corporation. The tests are based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA amplification followed by automated fluorescent DNA sequencing.

"We are extremely pleased to be working with a leader in the HLA tissue typing area," said Edward Michael, president, Abbott Molecular Diagnostics. "This agreement will ensure broad access to these innovative tests and provide important benefits for tissue typing laboratories."

The HLA proteins are integral to the function of the immune system and are located on the surface of white blood cells and other tissues in the body. There are two main classes of HLA genes, class I (including HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C) and class II (HLA-DR, HLA-DP and HLA-DQ). These genes are extremely variable, and DNA sequencing represents the "gold standard" of genetic analysis. HLA testing, also referred to as tissue typing, is a key component in determining the compatibility between potential donors and recipients prior to transplantation to maximize the chances of graft survival and minimize serious immunologic transplant complications. The better the match of HLA types, the higher the likelihood of a successful transplant.

"In light of Abbott Laboratories' position in the molecular diagnostics field, we feel that this relationship represents a significant opportunity to further establish DNA sequencing technology as the standard in all HLA typing laboratories," said Pete Krausa, PhD, president, Atria Genetics.