• Acacia Research (Newport Beach, California) reported that its CombiMatrix group's subsidiary, Combimatrix Molecular Diagnostics (CMDX), has completed the clinical validation of and has launched the third version of its constitutional array genetic test (CA1000). The test uses the company's bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) array, which includes over 200 new, validated probes. The CA1000 improves upon the previous CA850 by its increased coverage of genomic loci found in disease "hotspots" further enhancing the test's ability to detect and characterize common genetic disorders. Acacia Research comprises two operating groups, Acacia Technologies group and CombiMatrix group. The CombiMatrix group is developing a platform technology to rapidly produce customizable arrays. The Acacia Technologies group makes patented technologies covering technologies used in a wide variety of industries including audio/video enhancement & synchronization.

• Akray USA (Minneapolis, Minnesota) reported that it has begun selling its PocketChemEZ blood glucose monitoring system. The company received FDA clearance to market this system earlier in the year. The system gives results in 10 seconds, requires a 1 microliter sample size, and has a 250-count test memory with time and date stamp. The choice of palm or fingertip testing, combined with the ability to reapply blood within 10 seconds if the first drop is too small (double dosing), makes testing more comfortable. It features a large display for better viewing of test results. Akray specializes in diagnostic products and medical devices used at the point of care.

• Aperio Technologies (Vista, California) reported the launch of TMALab II, the latest release of the company's web-based digital pathology information management system, built for researchers who use tissue microarrays (TMAs). TMALab II software enables researchers to analyze and manage hundreds of small tissue samples simultaneously in a meaningful way to facilitate leading research applications such as new biomarker validation, or discovering and dissecting molecular pathways. The company says that the software is the only web-based product that facilitates multi-user access and server-based image analysis, allowing numerous remote pathologists to collaborate on large TMA projects. Additionally, the software provides links from any TMA core back to the original H&E slide cut from the corresponding donor block. Aperio is a provider of digital pathology systems for healthcare and the life sciences.

• Aureon Laboratories (Yonkers, New York) and its collaborators reported the publication of their Systems Pathology model for predicting prostate cancer PSA recurrence in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The article supports the Prostate Px prognostic test which provides patients and their physicians a personalized determination of their risk for prostate cancer recurrence following removal of the prostate. Aureon scientists used machine learning tools to develop a model based on clinico-pathological variables, histologic tumor characteristics, and cell-type specific protein biomarker quantitation. Prostate Px provides physicians with insight into a patient's chance of developing a cancer recurrence following removal of the prostate. The physician receives a Px score for both the probability of PSA recurrence (bio-chemical recurrence) and disease progression (distant metastasis). Aureon operates a CLIA-certified laboratory that provides predictive pathology services.

• EXACT Sciences (Marlborough, Massachusetts) reported publication of a study which concluded that patients who are educated about, but inexperienced with, the various colorectal cancer (CRC) screening methods prefer stool-based DNA technology (sDNA) over other non-invasive methods. In the study, 263 subjects were educated about six CRC screening tests: colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, FOBT, flexible sigmoidoscopy plus FOBT, double contrast barium enema and sDNA. The authors concluded that average risk patients who are inexperienced with screening prefer sDNA among non-invasive options and prefer colonoscopy, overall, due to its effectiveness. Importantly, the study also showed that most patients value a shared decision-making process with their physician when it came to test selection. Finally, the authors found that because colonoscopy and stool-based tests, particularly sDNA testing, are preferred over other options, it suggests that provider-patient decision making can be tailored to include fewer options. Among the tests evaluated, patients preferred colonoscopy, sDNA and FOBT by a wide margin over all other options. EXACT Sciences uses applied genomics to develop patient-friendly screening technologies for use in the detection of cancer.