IRVINE, Calif., and NEW YORK, — CombiMatrix Corporation (Nasdaq:CBMX), a molecular diagnostics company specializing in DNA-based testing services for developmental disorders and cancer diagnostics, and Manhattan Labs jointly announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership under which Manhattan Labs will market and distribute CombiMatrix microarray tests for the miscarriage management testing market in the New York City metropolitan area. The partnership was enabled by the announcement in late June that CombiMatrix miscarriage management tests had received conditional approval from the New York State Department of Health for testing on patient samples within the state.

Manhattan Labs is a high-end, independent clinical laboratory that serves the New York City metropolitan area. Women’s health, particularly obstetrics and reproductive issues, is one of Manhattan Lab’s specialties, noted Chief Executive Officer Ken Cerney.

“Our goal is to be the premier, full-service independent clinical laboratory in the New York City area,” Cerney said. “Our labs offer the highest quality testing for all patients and now we have added a new focus on miscarriage management. We believe adding the operational and analytical support of CombiMatrix will be beneficial to our physician customers and their patients, and will expand the breadth of services we provide. We also believe in the growing importance and clinical advantages microarray testing provides for appropriate patients and look forward to working in partnership with CombiMatrix.”

Miscarriage management testing, a subset of the overall prenatal testing market, allows OB/GYN physicians and clinicians to better determine if there is a genetic cause for a miscarriage or other related events. As in other areas of prenatal genetic analysis, microarray testing is believed by many to be the coming standard of care as it identifies a greater number of possible genetic abnormalities more accurately than traditional methods.

CombiMatrix President and Chief Executive Officer Mark McDonough noted that this partnership with Manhattan Labs enables CombiMatrix to broaden the geographic reach of its leading growth product into the important New York metropolitan area. At the same time, the partnership demonstrates that microarray testing is gaining acceptance as a preeminent diagnostic in the field of high quality women’s health.

“Clinical data is showing that, in terms of women’s health, microarray testing is quickly becoming the standard of care for miscarriage management testing,” McDonough said. “For CombiMatrix, our goal is to partner with the very best and most respected independent labs around the country and we are excited to be teaming up with such an important company as Manhattan Labs. Adding its marketing and distribution support to our own internal sales efforts promises to be very beneficial to our growth and prosperity.”