Agilent launches new tool for creating custom FISH probes

Agilent has introduced a new means of creating customised oligo fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) solutions for life science research.

Combining its Oligo Library Synthesis capability for FISH with its SureDesign online application, the new offering lets customers develop their own custom FISH probes, helping them maintain complete control over probe coverage and maximise target-sequence-specificity.

Since FISH probes are designed in silico, they enable precision targeting in regions of less than 100kb, both in conventional sequences and non-standard applications, such as non-human targets.

Once a custom FISH probe order is submitted, the design is sent directly to Agilent's oligo synthesis pipeline and downstream FISH probe production.

Victor Fung, senior global marketing director for Agilent's diagnostics and genomics business, said: "Many cytogenetic labs must perform orthogonal testing to verify the results of their research. Now with this expanded custom FISH solution, they can easily design high-quality assays in significantly less time."

This comes after the company launched its new high-performance Agilent 5100 Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer earlier this month.