NanoString Technologies launches nCounter Mouse miRNA Expression Assay Kit

NanoString Technologies, Inc., a privately held life sciences company marketing a complete solution for detecting and counting large sets of target molecules in biological samples, today announced the expansion of its microRNA (miRNA) product line with a multiplexed assay for profiling the mouse miRNA transcriptome. miRNAs are a class of small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression and have been implicated in the widespread control of critical biological processes such as cell growth.

“We are pleased to offer these researchers the same superior sensitivity and simple workflow that have made our human miRNA panel so popular.”

The nCounter^® Mouse miRNA Expression Assay Kit enables researchers to perform direct digital detection and counting of miRNAs at single-base resolution, without the need for amplification. The kit provides the capacity to perform multiplexed profiling of more than 600 murine and murine-associated viral miRNAs in a single tube, with specificity and sensitivity comparable to qPCR.

"Since we successfully launched our Human miRNA Expression Assay Kit in mid-2010, many researchers have been eagerly awaiting the launch of our mouse miRNA kit," said Brad Gray, President and CEO of NanoString Technologies. "We are pleased to offer these researchers the same superior sensitivity and simple workflow that have made our human miRNA panel so popular."

The nCounter Analysis System is a fully automated target detection and counting system with a very simple workflow. The assay kits contain all of the reagents and consumables required to conduct miRNA expression experiments. Minimal sample input requirements and compatibility with a variety of sample types, including formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, extends the utility of the platform. In addition to the human and mouse miRNA assays, NanoString provides assays for gene expression and copy number variation detection. The company also recently announced plans to develop in vitro diagnostic products to run on the nCounter platform.