Life Technologies & IMEGEN Develop Fast and Accurate Full Solution Horse DNA Test for Meat Products

- RapidFinder™ Equine ID Kit detects the presence of equine DNA extracted from meat samples to help allay public concern

GLASGOW, United Kingdom, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announces that it's developed the RapidFinder™ Equine ID Kit in conjunction with the Instituto de Medicina Genomica (IMEGEN) that detects the presence of equine DNA extracted from meat samples. The kit is optimized for its use in all Applied Biosystems Real-Time PCR Instruments.

"As global leaders in food testing products we recognise the importance of public confidence in knowing that the meat on their plate is safe to eat and is exactly what it says on the label," said Nir Nimrodi, Life Technologies' Vice President and General Manager Animal Health & Food Safety. "The RapidFinder™ Equine ID Kit is fast and accurate and will identify the presence of horse DNA from sample to result in the same day and will provide improved traceability and control within the food supply chain."

Life Technologies offers a full solution that includes a horse DNA quantification kit, which is recommended by the EU. The kit comprises:

• RapidFinder™ Equine ID Kit provides all the reagents required for 48 reactions. The detection limit is 0.01% (w/w) in fresh meat and includes a positive control consisting of 0.1% horse DNA.
• RapidFinder™ Quant Equine Set has a quantification limit: 0.05% (w/w) and includes the standard for quantification.

The RapidFinder™ Equine ID Kit is available immediately in Europe, Middle East & Africa and via Life Technologies distributors according to local regulatory requirements.

Along with customized PCR assays and reagents, Life Technologies also provides testing kits for other meat products such as pork, and the RapidFinder™ STEC Detection Workflow is a complete, validated screening system for E. coli O157:H7 and the six non-O157 STECs. This system has been awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) "Letter of No Objection" and provides meat producers with a simple, accurate, and fast solution for efficiently responding to new screening regulations for these pathogens.

The discovery of horsemeat in processed beef products sold by a number of European retailers last month resulted in a series of product recalls and thrown the spotlight on the food industry's supply chain. It has also inspired a stricter food-testing regime across Europe.

About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology company that is committed to providing the most innovative products and services to leading customers in the fields of scientific research, genetic analysis and applied sciences. With a presence in more than 180 countries, the company's portfolio of 50,000 end-to-end solutions are secured by more than 5,000 patents and licenses that span the entire biological spectrum -- scientific exploration, molecular diagnostics, 21st century forensics, regenerative medicine and agricultural research. Life Technologies has approximately 10,000 employees and had sales of $3.8 billion in 2012.

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About Instituto de Medicina Genomica (IMEGEN)
IMEGEN is a privately owned biotechnology company founded in 2009 that applies genomics to the development of food security tests and genetic tests for human rare diseases. In the area of food security, a wide portfolio of tests and kits are available for the control of GMO materials and animal species identification in food and feedstuff. In the biomedical area, more than 1,500 in-house genetic tests are available for the identification of mutations causing rare diseases of genetic origin. IMEGEN employs 24 people and operates in more than 20 countries in Europe and America. IMEGEN had sales of $2.6 million in 2012. Visit us at our website: www.imegen.es/english

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Media Contacts:
David Robertson
Corporate Communications Europe, Middle East & Africa
Life Technologies
Email: david.robertson@lifetech.com
Tel: +44-141-814-5889