Reliance Life Sciences, the nascent biotechnology initiative of the Reliance Group has joined hands with Thyrocare Technologies Limited (Thyrocare), the world's largest thyroid testing laboratory to offer DNA technology-based genetic testing services across the country, from this month.

Reliance Life Sciences recently created a comprehensive Genetic Centre as part of its Cell Biology group. This center is an adjunct to the embryonic stem cells research facility and the assisted reproduction facility and is involved in providing testing using contemporary techniques such as Karyotyping, Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridisation and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). These state-of-the-art tests are used for diagnosis of pre-natal and post-natal genetic mutations and disorders, chromosomal abnormalities and cancer conditions.

These contemporary techniques can be used to diagnose specific numerical and structural chromosomal anomalies like Down's syndrome, Patau syndrome, Edward syndrome and for rapid detection and quantitative analysis in the area of oncology and ß-thalassemia.

Under the arrangement, Thyrocare will use its extensive distribution, in over 40 cities reaching out to thousands of doctors, for sample collection and logistics. Reliance Life Sciences will provide testing services and make reports available through an integrated web-based reporting system.

Commenting on this initiative, Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director, Reliance Industries Limited said, “Reliance Life Sciences looks forward to working synergistically with Thyrocare in making available contemporary biotechnology-based services to millions to needy patients across India. Reliance Life Sciences brings to this relationship its growing expertise in the Cell Biology area.”

Dr. A. Velumani, managing director of Thyrocare said, “We are excited by the opportunity to partner with Reliance Life Sciences, a company that is conducting cutting edge research in the area of biotechnology. This relationship is a wonderful opportunity for Thyrocare to expand our service offering to our customers and to utilize our superior logistics expertise in the growing diagnostics market in India.”