Watrex Praha Introduces Next Generation Automation Solution for MegaBACE™ Genetic Analyzers


PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - June 16, 2002 - Watrex Praha, a privately owned company, announced today introduction of Caddy 1000+ and Caddy 4000+ robotic systems for automating of MegaBACE 1000 and 4000 genetic analyzers manufactured by Amersham Biosciences (LSE: NYSE: OSE: AHM). The new Caddy robotic systems will allow for 24 hour unattended operation of the 96 and 384 MegaBACE capillary instruments.

"We are very excited to extend our current line of MegaBACE automation robotic systems. After the initial introduction of Caddy 1000 enabling 12 hours of unattended operation on MegaBACE 500/1000 instruments, which were targeted mainly for core labs and medium-throughput centers, we now approach high-throughput sequencing and genotyping centers" says Milan Minarik, C.E.O. of Watrex Praha.

"Our Caddy 4000+ automation system enables Amersham to announce an automated MegaBACE 4000 to become again the highest throughput sequencing and STR genotyping platform, a claim taken little over a month ago by ABI's 3730xl machine (NYSE:ABI)." adds Minarik.

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MegaBACE™ is a trademark of Amersham Biosciences