Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies Launch New Test Methods to Simplify Mass Spectrometry Applications.

New iMethods enhance food and environmental testing, forensic toxicology and clinical research

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies (NASDAQ:LIFE), and its mass spectrometry joint-venture partner, MDS Analytical Technologies, a business unit of MDS Inc. (TSX:MDS)(NYSE:MDZ), today announced the commercial availability of a new suite of test methods that simplify the use of mass spectrometry technology for food and water quality testing, forensic toxicology and clinical research. The iMethod Tests consist of 23 pre-configured and verified workflows that can be downloaded and shared by laboratories to conduct scientific analysis on mass spectrometry instruments.

The new iMethods are enabled by the latest release of Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies' chemical testing application, Cliquid([R]) 2.0 Software for Routine Screening and Quantitation, which enables analysis of compounds and contaminants on its triple quadrupole and QTRAP([R]) systems. These tests can be used for accelerating responses to contamination in drinking water, protecting the food supply, as well as aiding clinical research to improve drug and metabolic disease monitoring. The iMethods were developed according to regulatory requirements, enabling laboratories to adopt them and eliminate the cost and complexity involved in building their own custom tests.

Among the organizations already using iMethods is the University of Guelph in Canada where food testing experts were planning to develop a test for carbamate pesticides, based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Instead, they decided to use the iMethod Test for this particular class of contaminant, due to the fact that it had already been verified and is readily available from the Applied Biosystems web site.

"The ready availability of test methods saves our laboratory the cost of developing and verifying tests that have already been adopted by other laboratories with specialized expertise," said Perry Martos, Director of the food testing laboratory at the University of Guelph. "The iMethod Tests enable us to quickly obtain answers with great confidence in the data we generate."

In addition to the carbamate pesticide method, other iMethods include testing for illicit drugs, pharmaceutical residues, immunosuppressants and vitamin D, among others. The iMethods Tests and Cliquid 2.0 Software are part of a workflow solution supported by Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies' LC/MS/MS mass spectrometry systems.

"Mass spectrometry is increasingly being used for a wide variety of applications," said Laura Lauman, President of Life Technologies' Mass Spectrometry Systems Division. "Applied Biosystems and MDS Analytical Technologies continue to innovate in developing complete workflow solutions that deliver the most accurate and reproducible data, providing our customers with confidence in their results."

Andy Boorn, President of MDS Analytical Technologies, which developed the mass spectrometry technology for iMethod Tests, added, "The new iMethods and the latest release of Cliquid software are examples of how our research and development pipeline is delivering differentiated, new products on a continuous basis across systems, software and a broad range of applications."

Applied Biosystems is a global leader in providing innovative instrument systems to accelerate academic and clinical research, drug discovery and development, pathogen detection and forensic DNA analysis. Applied Biosystems is a leading provider of mass spectrometry solutions through its joint venture with MDS Analytical Technologies. Applied Biosystems, along with Invitrogen - a leading provider of platform independent, essential life science technologies for disease and drug research, bioproduction and diagnostics - is part of Life Technologies. Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen products are used in nearly every major laboratory in the world.

For more information, please visit: www.appliedbiosystems.com and www.invitrogen.com.

About Life Technologies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: www.lifetechnologies.com.

About MDS Analytical Technologies

MDS Analytical Technologies, a business unit of MDS Inc. (TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ), is focused on the research, design, manufacture and marketing of state-of-the-art tools for mass-spectrometry, drug discovery and bioresearch. MDS Analytical Technologies' products are designed to help accelerate the complex process of discovering and developing new drug compounds, and are sold to research scientists around the world. The mass-spectrometer product lines are also sold globally through joint ventures with two of the world's leading analytical instrumentation and life-sciences companies, Life Technologies Corporation and PerkinElmer, Inc. Find out more at www.mdssciex.com or www.moleculardevices.com.

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Copyright 2009. Life Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved. Cliquid is a registered trademark of Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies, a joint venture between Life Technologies and MDS Inc.