omation mbers - Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening

3:30 pm Tuesday, February 3 Genomics – Analytical Room A1
Steven Hofstadler
Ibis Therapeutics
2292 Faraday Avenue
Carlsbad, California 92008
shofstad@isisph.com
Detection and Characterization of Biothreats and Emerging Infectious Diseases –
The TIGER Concept
A new strategy has been developed to allow real-time tracking of bacterial or viral epidemics. Called Triangulation
Identification for the Genetic Evaluation of Risk, or TIGER, the process is a rapid, recursive analysis that enables
simultaneous identification of all pathogens present in a sample. The strategy relies on PCR amplification and
base-composition analysis using high performance electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The
base compositions from multiple primer pairs are used to “triangulate” the identity of the organisms present in
the sample. Use of species-specific primers allows strain-typing of the organism. The utility of TIGER has been
validated for both air sample monitoring against biowarfare agents and analysis of samples from Marine Corps
recruits sickened in a Group A streptococcal (GAS) pneumonia outbreak. TIGER can be used to detect and
identify infectious agents directly from a throat swab and hundreds of samples can be analyzed within 12 hours.
This method allows real-time evaluation of patient samples and will make possible more rapid and appropriate
treatment of patients in ongoing epidemic.
4:00 pm Tuesday, February 3 Genomics – Analytical Room A1
James Godsey
Gen-Probe, Inc.
10210 Genetic Center Drive
San Diego, California 92121
jimg@gen-probe.com
The TIGRIS System for Total Automation of Nucleic Acid Testing
The TIGRIS system developed by Gen-Probe for total automation of nucleic acid testing will be presented.
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