External RNA Controls Consortium Seeks Sites for Initial Phase of RNA Control Testing.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The External RNA Controls Consortium (ERCC) announced today that it is looking for sites to test external RNA controls. Applications will be accepted through March 30, 2006.

The ERCC is an international group comprising more than 60 private, public and academic organizations from 16 countries who are working together to define a set of standard RNA controls, protocols and analysis tools to assess intra-platform technical performance for gene expression assays.

"At first, we will be looking for volunteers from commercial manufacturers to help collect data and test these external RNA controls. We will open the testing to other qualified academic institutions and research organizations later this year," said Janet A. Warrington, Ph.D., chairholder of the ERCC and vice president, Emerging Markets and Molecular Diagnostics, Research and Development at Affymetrix Inc.

The ERCC is seeking test sites that have the required experience and resources needed to perform these gene expression experiments. The first phases of testing will be limited to array and QRT-PCR production sites. Applications for other non-manufacturing or non-production sites will be accepted during the fifth phase, which is expected to take place later this year. The application form, test site criteria, test plan and more information can be found at: www.imclgs.org.

About the External RNA Controls Consortium (ERCC)

The ERCC is an ad-hoc group with approximately 200 members from more than 60 private, public and academic organizations. The group was founded in 2003 to develop a set of external RNA controls, protocols and analysis tools for use in assessing technical performance in gene expression assays. The ERCC is open to all interested parties.