• Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Pennsylvania) said that it has added the ImageGrid archive appliance from Candelis (Irvine, California) to its accessory solutions product portfolio. The fully integrated multimodality storage drive is offered through Siemens’ global sales and distribution channels. The ImageGrid is fully compliant with DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standards. Candelis is a medical informatics company; Siemens Medical Solutions provides medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services.

• VeriChip (Delray Beach, Florida) reported the launch of its new “Patient First” program. Under this new program, patients receive the VeriMed microchip with no up-front cost with a subscription to the VeriMed patient registry. The Patient First model enables all patients to access the VeriMed patient identification system for no cost up-front and what it termed a “nominal” monthly subscription. The VeriMed patient identification system, which uses an implantable RFID microchip in combination with a handheld RFID scanner and a secure patient database, provides immediate access to important health information for patients who arrive at an emergency department unable to communicate. VeriChip makes radio frequency identification systems for healthcare and patient-related needs.

• Whatman (Florham Park, New Jersey) said that it will provide DNA collection kits based on its FTA elute technology for a pharmacogenotyping study looking at genetic markers in prostate cancer. The international study is part of the Systemic Therapy in Advancing or Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Evaluation of Drug Efficacy (STAMPEDE) trial. The study is designed to increase understanding of metabolic pathways by which androgen blocking drugs affect patients. Each patient with advanced prostate cancer, who will participate in one of the five stages of the study, will have the option to contribute a sample of genetic material using the Whatman FTA Elute kit. FTA Elute utilizes a chemically-treated matrix that lyses cells and immobilizes nucleic acids on contact, enabling scientists to collect, transport, archive, and isolate DNA and RNA samples at room temperature in a single step. Whatman specializes in separations technology.