Life Technologies Receives AFNOR Validation for Tests Designed to Detect Listeria Contamination in Food Samples

CARLSBAD, Calif., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) has received validation from the certification body of Association Francaise de Normalisation (AFNOR) for its MicroSEQ® Listeria spp. and MicroSEQ® Listeria monocytogenes assays, molecular tests that are designed to quickly and accurately detect the presence or absence of this food-borne pathogen that most recently has been associated with an outbreak in cantaloupes.

AFNOR certification, which validates alternative methods according to the ISO standard EN/ISO 16140 and applicable throughout Europe, enables customers there to adopt rapid testing methods with proven performance equivalency standards.  The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tests, along with Life Technologies' full suite of sample preparation solutions and instruments, decreases the time to results (for negative samples) to 24 hours instead of 4-5 days when using the reference method.

The method equivalency findings for both Listeria species and Listeria monocytogenes products, which previously also received AOAC Research Institute validation for use in the United States, mark an important milestone for Life Technologies.  The company now has both AOAC and AFNOR validation for its top four testing kits, including MicroSEQ Salmonella spp. and MicroSEQ® E.coli O157:H7. All four validated assays cover 90 percent of pathogens tested for by the food industry.

"Considering the rise of high-profile pathogen outbreaks in the last year alone, it's clear that rapid and accurate molecular tests that have been validated by internationally recognized certification bodies is paramount to keep widespread contamination at bay," said Nir Nimrodi, Vice President and General Manager, Food Safety and Animal Health. "Life Technologies is creating partnerships with a growing number of customers in order to customize for them the most reliable suite of sample-to-answer detection solutions in support of their unique needs."

Life Technologies has developed highly accurate and rapid testing solutions for a broad range of food products and environmental samples since 2008. The company has done so by leveraging its whole genome sequencing capabilities to design its assays. AFNOR and AOAC certification for its top four products – MicroSEQ® Listeria spp., Listeria monocytogenes, MicroSEQ® Salmonella spp. and E.coli O157:H7 – applies to the assays, the sample preparation workflow, the real-time PCR instrumentation and the data interpreting software.

Not for use in human diagnostic procedures.

About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation is a global biotechnology company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific and medical advancements that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance the fields of discovery and translational research, molecular medicine, stem cell-based therapies, food safety and animal health, and 21st century forensics. The company manufactures both molecular diagnostic and research use only products. Life Technologies' industry-leading brands are found in nearly every life sciences lab in the world and include innovative instrument systems under the Applied Biosystems and Ion Torrent names, as well as, the broadest range of reagents with its Invitrogen, GIBCO, Ambion, Molecular Probes and TaqMan® products. Life Technologies had sales of $3.6 billion in 2010, has a workforce of approximately 11,000 people, has a presence in approximately 160 countries, and possesses one of the largest intellectual property estates in the life sciences industry, with approximately 3,900 patents and exclusive licenses. For more information on how we are making a difference, please visit our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com.

Life Technologies' Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110216/MM49339LOGO)

Life Technologies Contact
Mauricio Minotta
760-929-2456
[email protected]

SOURCE Life Technologies Corporation

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