Seeking share of growing genetic testing market. (People).CLINICAL laboratory testing represents a $37 billion industry, one dominated by hospitals and a couple of large players. For Jeff Lanzolatta, the new chief executive of Alfigen Inc., helming a company that takes a small niche of that market gives him a chance to contribute to early diagnosis and more successful treatment of cancer and other diseases. Alfigen, a 22-year-old firm based in Pasadena, has targeted a small but lucrative sector of the testing market: developing and executing prenatal prenatal /pre·na·tal/ (-na´tal) preceding birth. pre·na·tal adj. Preceding birth. Also called antenatal. prenatal preceding birth. , postnatal postnatal /post·na·tal/ (-na´t'l) occurring after birth, with reference to the newborn. post·na·tal adj. Of or occurring after birth, especially in the period immediately after birth. and cancer-related genetic testing Genetic Testing Definition A genetic test examines the genetic information contained inside a person's cells, called DNA, to determine if that person has or will develop a certain disease or could pass a disease to his or her offspring. for disease diagnosis, prognosis and prediction. While routine testing such as blood counts, pap smears Pap smear or Papanicolaou smear Sample of cells from the vagina and cervix of the uterus for laboratory staining and examination to detect genital herpes and early-stage cancer, especially of the cervix. Developed by the Greek-born U.S. and drug screening comprise 90 percent of the clinical tests conducted nationwide, they account for only 70 percent of overall revenues. By contrast, the type of tests conducted by Alfigen account for 2 percent to 3 percent of all clinical lab tests but 10-12 percent of all revenues. "Routine tests typically cost about $10. The testing we do at Alfigen is $300 to $400, mostly because of the difficulty and the requirement of precision involved and the strict licensing requirements," he said. The rapidly growing cytogenetic cytogenetic /cy·to·ge·net·ic/ (-je-net´ik) 1. pertaining to chromosomes. 2. pertaining to cytogenetics. cytogenetic pertaining to or originating from the origin and development of the cell. sector, the science of studying the relationship between genetics as it relates to cell behavior, has been spurred by new technologies. That has led to new regulations requiring technologists to be licensed by the state. Short of qualified people to perform the testing, Alfigen is considering branching into training. Lanzolatta began his career as a salesman for a laboratory company in 1976. He has spent his career with companies that deliver diagnostic testing Diagnostic testing Testing performed to determine if someone is affected with a particular disease. Mentioned in: Von Willebrand Disease and aid in early diagnosis and treatment of diseases - most recently as president of the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, division of Unilab Inc., one of the two dominant private players in the market. He replaces Dr. Omar Alfi, who founded the company in 1981. Married with one child, Lanzolatta was born in Connecticut and moved to Tarzana in 1991. |
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