SAN DIEGO–Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN – News) today launched the iScan System, a next-generation scanner that provides researchers conducting genotyping and gene expression studies with significantly greater throughput, enhanced automation, and improved ease of use. When used with the recently launched Infinium® High-Density (HD) Human1M-Duo and Human610-Quad Genotyping BeadChips, and Illumina’s laboratory information management systems and automation options, the iScan System can complete genotyping studies up to six times faster than studies run on Illumina’s BeadStation.

Under an Early Access Program, Illumina began shipping the iScan System in Q1 2008 to customers in both the academic and industrial sector. Among them were Scripps Genomics Medicine and Translational Science Institute and Cogenics. Cogenics is a division of Clinical Data and plans to use the iScan System to bolster their services offerings. Illumina will commence broad commercial shipment of the iScan System in Q2 2008.

“As our products become more complex, especially in the areas of high-density genotyping, copy number variation analysis, and gene expression profiling, it is important to have a scanner that keeps pace with the needs of genetic research,” says Jay Flatley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Illumina. “The iScan System offers researchers a next-generation microarray scanner that incorporates higher-performance optics and detection technology. Using our multi-sample iSelect™ BeadChip, researchers can process 120 samples in just 60 minutes, producing results in record time. This directly translates into faster project completion, faster study publication, and reduced study costs.”

Researchers at Scripps Genomics Medicine and Translational Science Institute are using the iScan System along with the Human610-Quad BeadChips to identify genetic determinants of cardiovascular disease towards more effective diagnostics and preventive strategies for this global health problem. After scanning fewer than 100 BeadChips, Scripps researchers have reported call rates averaging 99.8 percent, which are consistent with Illumina’s existing high call rates for the BeadStation.

The iScan System is a high-resolution scanner that supports rapid, sensitive, and accurate imaging of Illumina’s BeadChip-based genetic analysis products. Using sub-micron resolution, assay automation, and laboratory information management systems options, researchers can produce up to 225 million genotypes per day with one scanner. More information about the iScan System can be obtained at www.illumina.com/iScan.

To facilitate a smooth transition for its existing customer base, as well as to lower switching costs for others, Illumina is offering trade-in programs that cater to the specific needs of various users.

About Infinium HD Genotyping

Illumina’s genotyping products offer a flexible BeadChip design and HD architecture. The Infinium HD Assay combined with the Infinium HD BeadChip allows large-scale interrogation of variations in the human genome, accelerating the ability of researchers to cost-effectively unlock the genetic basis of disease. Infinium HD products provide a powerful complement to Illumina’s genotyping offering, which includes Infinium II, iSelect Infinium, GoldenGate®, and VeraCode® genotyping products. For more information on Illumina’s HD genotyping products, please visit www.illumina.com/dna.

About Illumina

Illumina (www.illumina.com) is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of next-generation life-science tools and integrated systems for the large-scale analysis of genetic variation and biological function. Using our proprietary technologies, we provide a comprehensive line of products and services that currently serve the sequencing, genotyping, and gene expression markets, and we expect to enter the market for molecular diagnostics. Our customers include leading genomic research centers, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, clinical research organizations, and biotechnology companies. Our tools provide researchers around the world with the performance, throughput, cost effectiveness, and flexibility necessary to perform the billions of genetic tests needed to extract valuable medical information from advances in genomics and proteomics. We believe this information will enable researchers to correlate genetic variation and biological function, which will enhance drug discovery and clinical research, allow diseases to be detected earlier, and permit better choices of drugs for individual patients.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: this release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements are Illumina’s ability (i) to integrate effectively our recent acquisition of Solexa, Inc., (ii) to develop and commercialize further our BeadArray™, VeraCode®, and Solexa® technologies and to deploy new sequencing, gene expression, and genotyping products and applications for our technology platforms, (iii) to manufacture robust microarrays and Oligator® oligonucleotides, (iv) to integrate and scale our VeraCode technology, together with other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q or in information disclosed in public conference calls, the date and time of which are released beforehand. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this release.