French Police and Gendarmerie Nationale Select Whatman FTA(R) Cards for DNA Collection; After Evaluating Several Products, FTA(R) Was Chosen For Ease Of Use And Ability To Ensure Safety And Stability Throughout The Sample Collection And Transportation Process.

PARIS -- Whatman plc., a global leader in separations technology, today confirms the earlier announcement that the French Police and French Gendarmerie Nationale have chosen to use Whatman Indicating FTA(R) Cards for the collection and transportation of buccal cell samples for forensic investigations, and explains why FTA was selected. This new agreement extends the relationship that began in 2000, when France first implemented a comprehensive database for the storage of criminal DNA.

"When our samples are collected and sent to our laboratories for processing, we need to be completely confident that the samples will maintain their integrity throughout the transportation process," said Captain Frederic Brard, Head of the High Throughput Laboratory of the Gendarmerie Nationale. "After evaluating several products for DNA collection and analysis, it was clear that our original choice, Whatman FTA, is still the most reliable product available. In addition to providing a stable environment for transport and storage, the FTA cards are treated with chemicals that inactivate blood-borne pathogens and prevent the growth of bacteria, which provides a greater degree of safety for the officers who are collecting human samples."

Evolving from 90 years of expertise in separations and analytical chemistry, the Whatman FTA product line provides dry, room temperature DNA collection and storage technology to a wide variety of industries. FTA is a chemically-treated matrix that lyses cells, denatures proteins and protects nucleic acid from nucleases, oxidation and UV damage. DNA extraction and purification takes place on the FTA card in a simple wash procedure, alleviating the need for expensive and time consuming kits. Indicating FTA Cards include a color marker that changes from pink to white when a sample is applied. This capability is preferred by individuals who collect colorless samples, such as buccal or culture cells.

"Once a sample is captured on an FTA Card, it is instantly immobilized and stabilized for either long-term storage or immediate processing," said Martin Tricarico, Vice President of Business Development at Whatman. "By streamlining sample collection and transport procedures, FTA enables law enforcement organizations like the French Police and Gendarmerie Nationale to focus on their central mission of protecting the population."

About Whatman

Whatman is a global leader in separations technology and is known in the scientific community for providing innovative life science products and solutions. With the acquisition of Schleicher & Schuell, Whatman offers a more comprehensive product range to its customers worldwide and enters the proteomics market with Schleicher & Schuell's core competency in protein chip technologies. For more information visit us at www.whatman.com.