MENLO PARK, Calif. — Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc., (Nasdaq:PACB) provider of the PacBio® RS II Sequencing System, today announced that Macrogen Inc of Korea has been named a PacBio Certified Service Provider.

The PacBio Certified Service Provider Program is a global network of validated service organizations utilizing PacBio’s sequencing technology. PacBio Certified Service Providers undergo a standardized certification procedure to provide them with the most up-to-date training on PacBio sample processing and data analysis workflows. Certification provides a competitive advantage to service providers and helps to ensure that their customers will receive the highest-quality genetic analysis services using PacBio technology.

“We have overwhelming interest in PacBio sequencing from our global customers,” said Dr. Hyon-yong Chong, CEO of Macrogen. “By joining the PacBio Certified Service Provider program we can promote this great technology to more than 15,000 Macrogen global clients and provide the most versatile options to our customers.”

Last year, Macrogen announced it would use the PacBio RS II to create high-quality de novo human genome references for the Asian population, and use the technology to perform sequencing applications that cannot be done effectively with short-read sequencing technologies. These include full-length transcript sequencing, high-quality de novo assemblies of plant, animal and bacterial genomes, metagenome characterization, and targeting complex regions of the human genome such as the major histocompatibility region (including full-length sequencing of HLA genes).

“Since adopting the PacBio technology, we are operating the systems 24-7 and our high precision Asian genome assembly project progresses smoothly. For example, we are able to assemble an Asian diploid genome achieving N50 quality over 8 Mb using only a single PacBio library,” Dr. Chong added.

Ram Laxman, Ph.D., Pacific Biosciences’ President and General Manager, Asia Pacific, commented: “Macrogen is a leader in genomics services and we are delighted they chose to undergo the rigorous process of certification to help ensure delivery of the highest quality SMRT® sequencing data to their clients. Partnerships like this expand the access to this unique technology and support a range of sequencing applications in the human, animal, plant and microbial research areas.”

About Pacific Biosciences

Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (NASDAQ: PACB) offers the PacBio® RS II Sequencing System to help scientists resolve genetically complex problems. Based on its novel Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT®) technology, Pacific Biosciences’ products enable: de novo genome assembly to finish genomes in order to more fully identify, annotate and decipher genomic structures; full-length transcript analysis to improve annotations in reference genomes, characterize alternatively spliced isoforms in important gene families, and find novel genes; targeted sequencing to more comprehensively characterize genetic variations; and DNA base modification identification to help characterize epigenetic regulation and DNA damage. Pacific Biosciences’ technology provides the industry’s highest consensus accuracy over the longest read lengths in combination with the ability to detect real-time kinetic information. The PacBio RS II System, including consumables and software, provides a simple, fast, end-to-end workflow for SMRT Sequencing. More information is available at www.pacb.com.

About Macrogen

Macrogen, Inc. (www.macrogen.com), based in Seoul, Korea, is a world leading service provider in high-quality gene analysis and has enjoyed stable and steady growth since 1997. The company’s diverse offerings include DNA sequencing, next generation sequencing, microarray analysis, oligonucleotide synthesis, and genetically engineered mice services. In addition, Macrogen has been expanding its business scope into other areas such as molecular diagnostics and consumer genomics. With a global presence, Macrogen operates through U.S. subsidiaries in Rockville, New York, and Cambridge; in the Netherlands in Europe; and, in Tokyo, Japan. Macrogen is listed on the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (ticker symbol: A038290).