Apr 6 2011
Asuragen, Inc. announced today the launch of Inform™Thyroid, a panel of molecular markers used on Fine Needle Aspirates (FNA) of thyroid nodules to aid physicians in the management of thyroid cancer. The FNAs are analyzed in Asuragen's CAP accredited CLIA Laboratory. The Revised American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer has stated, "The use of molecular markers (e.g., BRAF, RAS, RET/PTC, Pax8-PPARy) may be considered for patients with indeterminate cytology on FNA to help guide management."
“These molecular markers have been well studied, but have not been routinely used due to the difficulty of developing the technology needed to easily perform these tests on a single FNA sample”
"These molecular markers have been well studied, but have not been routinely used due to the difficulty of developing the technology needed to easily perform these tests on a single FNA sample," commented Matt Winkler, Ph.D., CEO. "At Asuragen our scientists incorporated both the DNA and RNA molecular markers into a multiplexed panel which can be performed with limited sample input from the FNA specimen, and a sample procurement system that makes it easy for physicians to order the Inform™Thyroid Panel."