New System Expands Comprehensive Services Repertoire

BEVERLY, Mass. — (March 27, 2009) — Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, a Beckman Coulter Company, announced today that its Genomic Services group has purchased an Illumina Genome Analyzer II (GAII)* for its next-generation sequencing suite. With installed 454 Life Sciences Genome Sequencer FLX* and Applied Biosystems SOLiD* instruments used in production, the addition of the GAII makes Agencourt — already the leading U.S. provider of Sanger DNA sequencing — the first commercial DNA sequencing service provider worldwide with comprehensive next-generation services.

Established in 2001, Agencourt Bioscience quickly became world-renowned for its highly automated Sanger sequencing pipeline. Agencourt now supports Sanger, next-generation and hybrid sequencing projects. “Recognizing that there is great utility in each technology has been important in responding to the changing requirements of our customers,” said Julie Moore, Agencourt strategic marketing director. “It’s exciting to support scientists who want to leverage DNA sequencing in their research and adding the new capabilities of the Illumina GAII to our repertoire builds on that excitement.”

The comprehensive line-up of next-generation sequencing instruments allows Agencourt to address a range of sample and project types for both pharmaceutical and academic researchers. Low library construction input requirements and a variety of kitted applications make the Illumina platform well-suited for many research projects. Agencourt recently upgraded to version 3 SOLiD instruments, and the company’s experience with that platform surpasses that of any sequence provider. The long reads provided by the 454 Life Sciences GS FLX systems and Titanium* reagents have utility in a variety of scientific applications and are particularly valuable for de novo sequencing projects.

“The breadth of applications to which researchers are applying DNA sequencing data is growing in a manner consistent with the rapid acceptance of these platforms in the research community,” Moore added. “By taking a technology-inclusive approach to next-generation sequencing, Agencourt can continue to address the needs of its customers with superior DNA sequencing solutions.”

Beckman Coulter, Inc., based in Orange County, California, develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical tests. More than 200,000 Beckman Coulter systems operate in laboratories around the world, supplying critical information for improving patient health and reducing the cost of care. Recurring revenue, consisting of supplies, test kits, service and operating-type lease payments, represents approximately 78 percent of the company’s 2008 annual revenue of $3.1 billion. For more information, visit www.beckmancoulter.com.

Agencourt Bioscience Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Beckman Coulter, is a leading provider of nucleic acid purification products and genomic services for life science research. Agencourt Genomic Services is the world’s leading commercial sequencing facility, offering both Sanger and next generation capabilities.