Immucor Launches MIA FORA NGS FLEX HLA Typing Assay

NORCROSS, Ga., Feb. 14, 2017 -- Immucor, Inc., a global leader in transfusion and transplantation diagnostics, today announced the launch of the new MIA FORA® NGS FLEX HLA Typing Assay that provides comprehensive coverage of up to 11 HLA genes. The MIA FORA NGS FLEX HLA Typing Assay is the only high resolution next generation sequencing (“NGS”) solution that delivers comprehensive, flexible coverage and an optimized laboratory workflow without compromising performance.

• Sample to sequencing in <24 hours
• Available as 5, 6, 9 and 11 gene kits
• Optimized MIA FORA FLEX 3.0 software streamlines data analysis
• Compatible with Linux servers; Windows workstations compatibility coming soon

The MIA FORA NGS FLEX HLA Typing Assay has been validated on the Illumina MiSeq and MiniSeq platforms using multiple flow cell options.  It is now available as Research Use Only (RUO) in the United States, and is CE Marked.

The MIA FORA NGS FLEX HLA Typing Assay provides superior whole gene coverage of all major HLA gene regions, including whole gene coverage for HLA-A,B, C, DPA1, DQA1, and DQB1; all exons and introns for HLA-DRB1,3,4,5 except partial coverage for exon 6 and intron 1; and all exons and introns between exons 2 and 4 for HLA-DPB1. This broad coverage minimizes ambiguities, in particular for DRB1,3,4,5, which uses a unique approach to primer design to maximize coverage.

The software that powers the MIA FORA NGS FLEX analysis was developed based on Immucor’s extensive experience with HLA typing. With an intuitive user interface, the MIA FORA FLEX 3.0 software is the only HLA analysis solution that uses three algorithms for analysis of genotyping calls, a proprietary database for precise mapping and alignment, and a smart flagging system that alerts users and allows them to make confident allele calls rapidly. Data is automatically transferred and analyzed from the sequencing platform with no user intervention, so results are analyzed as soon as the data is available.  MIA FORA FLEX 3.0 software is the next generation of informatics optimizing both laboratory technologist ease-of-use and data analytics.

“The launch of the MIA FORA NGS FLEX HLA Typing Assay shows the ability and dedication of the Immucor MIA FORA team to quickly develop a significantly enhanced product that will meet the demands of the HLA testing community,” stated Michael Mindrinos Ph.D., President and co-founder of Sirona Genomics, now a part of Immucor. Keith Chaitoff, Immucor’s Chief Marketing Officer added, “The improvements to the MIA FORA workflow demonstrate Immucor’s commitment to the transplant market and all stakeholders, from the laboratory and transplant teams to the patients and their families. The MIA FORA NGS FLEX HLA Typing Assay combines with the LIFECODES transplant products and the kSORT post-transplant monitoring test to offer Immucor customers the broadest high quality transplant product line available in the market today.”

About Immucor
Founded in 1982, Immucor is a global leader in transfusion and transplantation diagnostics that facilitate patient-donor compatibility. Our mission is to ensure that patients in need of blood, organs or stem cells get the right match that is safe, accessible and affordable. With the right match, we can transform a life together. For more information on Immucor, please visit our website at www.immucor.com.

CONTACT: Michele Howard 
770.441.2051