Asper Biotech is a genetic testing company

Asper Biotech has launched a new version of Usher syndrome test. The APEX-based test has been updated to include 810 alterations associated with different types of Usher syndrome, as well as nonsyndromic hearing loss and deafness.

For more comprehensive diagnostics we are also offering Usher syndrome Next-Gen Panel that covers the analysis of eleven disease-related genes – ABHD12, CDH23, CLRN1, DFNB31, HARS, GPR98, MYO7A, PCDH15, USH2A, USH1C, and USH1G.

For more information please view http://www.asperbio.com/asper-ophthalmics/usher-syndrome.

For those of you who are fluent in Russian we have a pleasant news about our animation – it is now also available in Russian. Please visit http://www.youtube.com/ in order to take a look at the whole process with text in Russian language.

However it must be emphasised that APEX is only one of the technologies we use in screening patient DNAs. Amongst APEX we have also NextGen and Sanger sequencing that can be very well combined.

Asper Biotech invites you to visit our booth no 270 at the Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Genetics in Paris, France on June 8-11. We will be presenting updated version of the Asper Ophthalmics’s tests such as Usher Syndrome that is currently in the phase of larger update, as well as a new development we have now NextGen Sequencing service for both research and diagnostic needs available for most of our tests. More information about NGS services available on our website http://www.asperbio.com/ngs-service or in the booth 270 at the ESHG in June.

Have you ever wondered what is happening to your DNA samples once you have shipped them off to Asper Biotech? Now you have a great possibility to see the whole process at human level:

Asper Biotech just launched a new brand – Asper Animal Genetics. There are several hereditary conditions that are common for animals and each species has it’s own conditions. Some of them are important for selective breeding to rule out the undesired features as others are very serious diseases that needs an expert whilst handling the offspring. Currently there are two syndrome tests available for dogs – Episodic falling syndrome and Curly coat & Dry eye syndrome.

As the newest of Asper Biotech’s portfolios the Asper Animal Genetics is constantly in the phase of active growth and you are most welcome to revisit the page in order to discover new species and new tests. In case the test of your interest is not enlisted to the catalogue you can contact us in order to find out whether the planned test is in the pipeline. Moreover – all the help in elaborating and developing such tests is always welcome.

In a pool of different technologies developed for the DNA screening APEX stands out for its unique approach for targeted analysis. In this short 3D animation clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDJDucBsmdA you can see the whole process in practice starting from the DNA already extracted from blood till the final data analysis. For either the medical purposes or just research screening ones the selection of the right technology can be crucial. In case your planned project involves many genes and different sites from them then APEX technology is a good choice as it is well suited for already characterized genetic markers and operates with well-known information.

In addition to APEX we have also adapted NextGen and Sanger sequencing to our services. Whilst APEX allows simultaneous, cost effective detection of hundreds DNA alterations in many different genes and as an addition to the panel of genetic tests that are currently available on our website http://www.asperbio.com/genetic-tests we are always open to offer our expertise in  developing new state-of-the-art genetic tests for common and rare genetic diseases. Just contact Asper Biotech and we’ll discuss your project with our scientific team.

PS. In case you would like to know more about the comparison of two different technologies please take a look at a blog post http://www.genorama.com/EN/about-genorama/blog/validated-microarray-based-genorama-apex-technology-has-its-niche-in-the-diagnostic-lab/ by our sister company Genorama. The post compares the two approaches and elucidates how one can merge both technologies.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have improved throughout the years as rapid, high-throughput and cost-effective approaches to fulfil medical sciences and research demands. Asper Biotech has now implemented Illumina MiSeq to it’s routine workflow and offers a variety of NGS services in it’s CLIA certified laboratory. The list of services can be found from Asper Biotech’s page here. Our highly experienced scientific team as well as medical doctors are here to deliver you the results for both scientific and medical diagnostic projects. Just contact info@asperbio.com for more information.

An article of Asper Biotech’s participation of a cancer research project CTCtrap (circulating tumour cells) was just realised in the biggest Estonian newspaper. The CTCtrap method investigates the possibility of “catching” free circulating cancer cells from the bloodstream. In case of a success, this method could possibly lead to a solution where cancer, once beaten, would never return.

Anu Aaspõllu a senior scientist in Asper Biotech told that CTCtrap method would help to improve the cancer diagnostics and treatment significantly and is another step towards the personal medicine. The whole international study of eleven partners from seven countries is led by Leon Ter­stappen a professor of Medical Cell Biophysics of the University of Twente, The Netherlands. European Union is funding the research with 6 million Euros whilst the whole budget is much larger as all the partners must contribute from their side as well.

In case you are fluent in Estonian, you can read more from http://www.tartupostimees.ee/1145100/uus-meetod-ajab-vahirakud-loksu/.

An article on congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) by Dr. Zeitz and three scientists from Asper Biotech was just published in Methods in Molecular Biology (Methods Mol Biol. 2013;963:319-26.). The article describes APEX-based method for the analysis of mutations associated with CSNB.

Details for the article: Arrayed primer extension microarray for the analysis of genes associated with congenital stationary night blindness Vaidla K, Uksti J, Zeitz C, Oitmaa E. Methods Mol Biol. 2013;963:319-26.

It is a new and exciting year full of great progress for Asper Biotech and we do all that for you dear customers and partners. Sometimes tiny details around the activities may remain unnoticed from you despite they might matter for you, therefore we decided to open up a Twitter account @asperbiotech. We will use this channel to share  you news about Asper Biotech, as well as stories and scientific breakthroughs that our team has picked up from media. We would appreciate if you could add our Twitter account @asperbiotech to your list of followed sources and share this news further to your friends and colleagues. We would like to be in touch with your achievements,  so we will do our best to follow you as well.

Asper Biotech is pleased to introduce a new addition to our lab – MiSeq sequencer from Illumina. Part of our strategy lies in broadening the variety of different technologies used in DNA testing. Once the initial training has been completed and the MiSeq has been adapted for our lab environment and everyday working processes we will provide more information about our next generation sequencing services currently under development.

Asper Biotech proudly announces that we received CLIA Certificate (ID 99D2046227), proving our laboratory services being in compliance with all applicable CLIA requirements. We have been steadily operating in accordance with the highest clinical standards and good laboratory practice. Hence, becoming a CLIA approved laboratory affirms our common effort to systematically improve the quality of our diagnostic services.

Asper Biotech invites you to visit our booth no 1418 at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics in San Francisco, November 6-10. We will be presenting updated versions of the Asper Ophthalmics’s tests such as ARRP test, as well as the brand new tests in the field of oncogenetics. Our scientists are also represented  in Poster Session with performed research „Genetic Screening of Colorectal Cancer Patients for the Lynch Syndrome Detection in Estonian Population“.

Nine new genes (EYS, ABCA4, AIPL1, CNGA3, CNGB3, GRK1, IMPG2, RHO, and RP1) have been added to Autosomal Recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa test.  The improved version covers 710 mutations in 28 genes providing a comprehensive diagnostic tool for retinitis pigmentosa.

The EU has awarded a six-million-euro grant to the project CTCtrap (Circulating Tumour Cells TheRapeutic Apheresis), led by Leon Terstappen, Professor of Medical Cell Biophysics at the University of Twente.

The new and highly advanced technique known as the CTCtrap aims to screen cancer patients for circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the future, and thereby to provide therapy that is better tailored to individual patients. The CTCtrap is expected to be available in about four years’ time. According to Prof. Terstappen, “this new technology will bring about a radical change in the treatment of cancer patients.”

The project team consists of a consortium of eleven companies, universities, and research institutes from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Estonia, Germany and the Netherlands.  Asper Biotech, the Estonian partner in the project, will be involved in molecular profiling of CTCs. The project’s official date of commencement is September 1, 2012.

Asper Oncogenetics portfolio has been upgraded with new tests for the risk assessment and diagnostics of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer tests are presented at an introductory offer, with 10% discount of the standard prices. The offer is valid until the end of 2012.

Panel of Lynch syndrome testing now includes microsatellite instability (MSI) testing, MMR protein (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2) expression analysis by immunohistochemistry (IHC), mutation analysis of MSH2, MLH1, MSH6, PMS2 genes and methylation analysis of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, MSH3, MLH3 and PMS2 genes. Also, BRAF mutation V600E analysis from tumour tissue is available. In addition, Asper Biotech offers MUTYH-associated Polyposis (MAP) testing.

Asper Biotech will be represented at the following conferences in 2012 – ARVO Annual Meeting (#214), May 6-10 in Fort Lauderdale, ESHG Conference (#318), June 23-26 in Nürnberg, 17th Retina International World Congress, July 13-15 in Hamburg.

Thirteen new additional markers in ALMS1 gene are available for the detection of Alström Syndrome.

Asper Biotech will be attending at the 12th International Congress of Human Genetics in Canada. We are glad to meet you in our exhibition booth (#311) on 11-14th of October at the Le Palais des Congrès in Montreal.

Visit Asper Biotech’s booth (#280) at the European Human Genetics Conference on 28-31th of May 2011 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Our company, represented by CEO Eneli Oitmaa and Medical Geneticist Dr Kairit Joost, is also involved in a Poster Session. The posters will be presented respectively on the topics “Diagnostic testing for Male Factor Infertility using APEX microarrays” and “Microchip for determination of the syndromes tied to increased Nuchal Translucency”.