eGene Inc. and City of Hope's Dr. David Senitzer Presented 'The End of Agarose Gel Electrophoresis' at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics in San Diego.

IRVINE, Calif. -- Dr. David Senitzer, Ph.D., DABMLI, DABHI, Director of the Histocompatibility Laboratory at the City of Hope National Medical Center (Duarte, Calif.), presented his HLA genotyping work using the first automated HLA SSP genotyping system from eGene (OTCBB:EGEI) at the 32nd annual meeting of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in San Diego, California, recently. Dr. Senitzer described the system as "The End of Agarose Gel Electrophoresis."

In his presentation (available on eGene's website, www.egeneinc.com), Dr. Senitzer noted that he wished to replace serology (blood testing to detect the presence of antibodies in the blood serum that may adversely affect bone marrow transplants) with an analytical tool that was more accurate and easier to perform. He said that current techniques -- polyacrylamide and agarose gel techniques -- did not match the cutting-edge technology available for genetic analysis. Citing the "ambiguous combinations resolved by PCR-SSP amplification," an alternative tissue typing technique to serology, Dr. Senitzer explained how eGene's automated multicapillary electrophoresis system provides high-resolution HLA (human leukocyte antigen) SSP typing results for 96 samples in 25 minutes, using a cartridge inserted directly into the system.

"The system is automated from setup to analysis, saving 30 to 40 percent in labor costs," Dr. Senitzer said. "There is no loading, pipetting, electrophoresing gel, taking pictures with an ultraviolet light, or annotating. The 96-well plate goes directly from PCR to the automated analyzer."

Further, Dr. Senitzer cited the advantage of using under 1 microliter of sample, enabling rerunning; the high resolution and ease of interpretation; and the ability to import the data into a patient database. He added that the eGene cartridge can be reused for 3,000 PCR sample analysis per cartridge.

Ming S. Liu, Ph.D., CEO of eGene, added, "There are nearly 600 HLA laboratories worldwide routinely checking the individual HLA genotype for organ and bone marrow transplantation. We believe our automatic, affordable, user-friendly genotyping system represents the future of HLA genotyping analysis."

About ASHI

ASHI (www.ashi-hla.org) is a not-for-profit association of clinical and research professionals including immunologists, geneticists, molecular biologists, transplant physicians and surgeons, pathologists and technologists. As a professional society involved in histocompatibility, immunogenetics and transplantation, ASHI is dedicated to advancing the science and application of histocompatibility and immunogenetics; providing a forum for the exchange of information; and advocating the highest standards of laboratory testing in the interest of optimal patient care.

ASHI is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing and has liaisons with several other scientific and medical organizations including the College of American Pathologists, American Association of Blood Banks, American Association of Tissue Banks, American Society of Human Genetics, the National Marrow Donor Program, American Board of Transplant Coordinators, North American Transplant Coordinators Organization, American Society of Transplant Physicians, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, and the American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics.

About Dr. David Senitzer

Dr. Senitzer has been director of the Histocompatibility Laboratory at the City of Hope National Medical Center since 1994. Prior to that, he served as director of the Transplantation Immunology Laboratory and associate professor of surgery (immunology) at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, New York and associate professor, department of microbiology, associate professor of pathology, and director of the Tissue Typing and Cellular Immunology Laboratory, Medical College of Ohio at Toledo (Toledo, Ohio).

About eGene Inc.

eGene Inc. (www.egeneinc.com) focuses its core technologies of capillary electrophoresis, microfluidics, liquid handling and automation to develop and manufacture low-cost microfluidic, miniaturized digital genetic analyzer systems, software and consumables for biological materials testing applications. These products detect, quantify, identify and characterize DNA and RNA at high rates of specificity and sensitivity while automating routine and non-routine laboratory and industrial procedures critical to product safety, development quality and productivity.

eGene's HDA-GT12(TM) Genetic Analyzer is in use at more than 100 hospitals and research centers worldwide. The system analyzes genetic fingerprinting of living organisms through microsatellites, AFLP and RFLP. It performs fast DNA sample screening and high-resolution DNA fragment analysis (2-5bp). The system also analyzes the quality and quantity of total RNA and cRNA, determines the efficiency of cRNA and cDNA amplification reactions and ensures quality of fragmented cRNA. The company sells cartridges that are specific to the type of analysis to be performed. All data is then received in digital form for appropriate transmission and storage.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are made based on management's current expectations and beliefs. Actual results may vary from those currently anticipated based upon a number of factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revision, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.