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Perkin Elmer and Applied Biosystems Complete Merger The merger of Perkin Elmer (NYSE:PKN) and Applied Biosystems (NASDAQ: ΑΒΙΟ) became effective Feb. 18. Shareholders of Applied Biosystems will receive 0.678 shares of Perkin Elmer stock for every share of Applied Biosystems stock held as of the merger date. Applied Biosystems became a division of Perkin Elmer and includes both the operations of Applied Bio systems and the life science operations and products of Perkin Elmer. The division provides polymerase chain reaction instrumentation and reagents; DNA and pro tein synthesizers, sequencers, and reagents; DNA char acterization and analysis products for techniques such as capillary electrophoresis; and LC and LC/MS sys tems. André F. Marion, former chairman, president, and CEO of Applied Biosystems, will head the new division. Annual revenues of approximately $350 million are anticipated. Perkin Elmer, based in Norwalk, CT, was founded in 1937 and has been a leader in the development, manufacture, and distribution of analytical instruments for the environmental, chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, agriculture, and research markets. Applied Biosystems, based in Foster City, CA, was founded in 1981 and has been a leader in the development, manufacture, and distribution of automated instrument systems and reagents used to purify, analyze, and synthesize biological molecules such as DNA, RNA, and other proteins.
Beneficial Partnerships The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently entered into agreements with two companies to develop two instruments for clinical and environmental use. Development of the first instrument is an effort to add another weapon to the war against breast cancer. NIST and Paracelsian, Inc., of Ithaca, NY, will further develop a table-top flow injection immunoassay (FIIA) system, originally invented at NIST. The FIIA system measures estrogen byproducts that could indicate if a woman is at risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers have found that there is a link between the way in which a woman's body uses the hormone estrogen and her chances of developing the disease. A particular estrogen byproduct is thought to encourage tumor growth, whereas the normal estrogen byproduct does not. Measuring the ratio of these two byproducts gives doctors an idea of who is at risk. The FIIA uses liposomes (fat globules) filled with dye and coated with an antigen or antibody and a column packed with powdered silica coated with the matching antigen or antibody. A sample of the patient's urine or blood serum containing the byproducts is mixed with the liposomes and injected into the system. The byproducts compete for binding sites on the column. The dye in
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the liposomes sticking to the column is measured and indicates the amount of estrogen byproduct in the sample. The FIIA system is reliable, fast, and relatively inexpensive and can be used to measure other hormones. The need for radioactive isotopes used in other hormonemeasuring methods is eliminated. In another agreement, NIST and Photonic Sensor Systems of Atlanta, GA, are designing hand-held integrated optic biosensors for field use to detect pollutants, chemicals, viruses, and bacteria. The devices could be used by environmental regulators, medical personnel, food inspectors, and even military personnel for biological and chemical treaty verification. In these partnerships, NIST contributes its scientific resources and the companies contribute a conduit into the marketplace. The companies retain intellectual property rights and the option to obtain exclusive licenses on any inventions that result from the ventures.
For Your Information The Education Department of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) has published the 1993 edition of Graduate and Postdoctoral Training Programs in Clinical Chemistry. The directory, updated annually, lists 28 graduate and postgraduate clinical chemistry programs, both accredited and nonaccredited, in the United States and Canada. Clinical Chemistry—Is the Challenge for You? is a career education brochure that describes the profession, education requirements, work environment, and job responsibilities. The directory costs $5 (plus shipping and handling). Single copies of the brochure are free; 10 copies cost $5, and 25 copies cost $10. Contact Claire House, Education Coordinator, AACC, 2029 Κ St., N.W., Washington, DC 20006 (202835-8701 or 800-892-1400; fax 202-887-5093). Principios de Garantia de Calidad Para Laboratorios Analyticos, the Spanish version of Quality Assurance Prin ciples for Analytical Laboratories, published by AOAC International, is available. This version was pro duced in response to the worldwide demand for quality assurance in the laboratory. Before June 30, prices are $84.60 in North America and $89.10 outside North Amer ica; after June 30, prices are $94 and $99, respectively. Contact AOAC International, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201-3301. Credit card orders may be placed by phone (703-522-3032) or fax (703-522-5468). Los Alamos National Laboratory (LAND is celebrat ing its 50th anniversary. The laboratory was set up in 1943 at the site of the Los Alamos Boys School to de velop the atomic bomb as part of the Manhattan Project. To commemorate the golden anniversary, LANL held a series of seminars and panel discussions in April and is planning a week-long Manhattan Project reunion in June. More than 900 people who worked on the project are expected to attend, including many of the original theorists. The celebration will also include the Hispanic and Pueblo communities outside of Los Alamos. ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 65, NO. 9, MAY 1, 1993 · 433 A
