Affymetrix, Inc. and DNA Link, Inc., a Korean genomics-based biotechnology company, have signed a Powered by Affymetrix (PbA) Programme agreement in which DNA Link, Inc. obtains a worldwide license to develop and commercialise a forensic test for comprehensive human identification and other diagnostic tests using Affymetrix' microarray technology and the Korea FDA (KFDA) cleared GeneChip System 3000Dx v.2.

AccuID Chip is a novel SNP marker based array for personal identification which can be applied to a variety of forensic samples, including degraded DNA samples. This array utilizes DNA Link's unique approach of combining Affymetrix' target resequencing array technology and multiplexing PCR technology to genotype hundreds of SNP markers in a single experiment to obtain high quality data and a wide variety of information - all with high throughput and cost efficiency.

Dr Jong-Eun Lee, CEO of DNA Link, said, "The advantage of using SNP markers is that they possess lower mutation rate than STR markers, thus are more stable in terms of inheritance which could aid parentage testing, kinship analysis, ethnicity, or predicting phenotypic characteristics. This novel forensic test, AccuIDChip, can be used complementarily with existing STR tests and to build a more comprehensive forensic database. We are pleased to join the ranks of other PbA Programme partners, such as Roche Diagnostics and Pathwork Diagnostics in adopting the Affymetrix technology."

"We are very pleased to have DNA Link join our Powered by Affymetrix program in which we help partners to develop novel molecular diagnostic tests for personalized healthcare. DNA Link being our first partner in Korea will also provide our other PbA partners access to the Korean personalized genomics market," said Dara Wright, vice president, Clinical Applications Marketing at Affymetrix.

AccuID Chip is not available for in vitro diagnostic use in the United States.

Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo, Powered by Affymetrix, GeneChip and all other trademarks are the property of Affymetrix, Inc. AccuIDChip is trademark of DNA Link and all other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

DNA Link, Inc. is a leading company in genomics, personalized medicine, molecular diagnostics, and forensics.

Affymetrix technologies are used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and biotechnology companies as well as leading academic, government, and nonprofit research institutes.