Santa Clara, CA – September 18, 2003 - SigmaQuest, Inc, leader in product performance intelligence, today announced that the company will present at Laboratory Robotics Interest Group’s (LRIG) conference, Open Communication Standards and Approaches for Laboratory Automation, on September 30, 2003, at the Woodfin Hotel, Emeryville, California.

Many life science and drug discovery laboratories have adopted automated systems to increase throughput, lower per assay costs, and reduce operator error. Since most laboratory automation systems incorporate instruments from different vendors, the initial integration can be challenging from a software perspective. Sample preparation, detection, liquid handling and plate handling instruments all have different control requirements and are generally designed without regard to cross vendor interoperation. This conference will focus on adopting software architecture and inter-instrument standards to ease the initial integration of instruments as well as addition of new instruments into an automation environment. XML based peer-to-peer architectures will be discussed as well as data standards for micro plate-based instruments.

LRIG Northwest chapter is dedicated to the discussion of automation topics relevant to Bay Area researchers. Among the topics discussed are the uses of laboratory robotics in high throughput screening, drug discovery, combinatorial chemistry, chemical synthesis, compound purification, and compound distribution.

At this event, Al Alaverdi, SigmaQuest Vice President of Technology, will present SigmaQuest’s unique real-time product performance intelligence solution for lab, factory and field. In this presentation, Mr. Alarverdi will discuss how such solutions can be applied to Life Sciences laboratory R&D and manufacturing operations.

Talk Abstract: Data to Information: Pulling It All Together. Does It Add UP?

Al Alaverdi, SigmaQuest Inc., CA

Life Sciences laboratory R&D and manufacturing operations carried out by different groups at different sites generate large amounts of data that may include output from a variety of instrumentation, electronic and paper forms, and material, process and batch specifications and records generated. Effective collection, analysis and conversion of this disparate data into actionable information enhances a company's ability to develop and produce successful products on reduced time lines at lower cost.

SigmaQuest has developed an innovative web-based tool that collects data from instrumentation or other sources, aggregates data from remote sites, converts it into a common database format, performs specified analyses, and generates custom or standard reports for technicians, supervisors or management. This generic tool is being used by producers of electronic equipment to monitor in-house and contract manufacturing and testing of components worldwide. Life Sciences-specific applications are being developed with manufacturers of pacemakers and of disposable bioassay chips.

About LRIG-NW

LRIG-Northwest, the Pacific Northwest chapter of the Laboratory Robotics Interest Group. The LRIG-NW is a non-profit educational organization based in Seattle, Washington beginning its fourth year of service to the scientific community of the Pacific Northwest. Our mission is to provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas in the application of new techniques and technologies in drug discovery and life science laboratories. Our membership includes scientists from academic labs and the biopharmaceutical industry as well as representatives from vendors who provide products to the life science industry. Key areas of interest to the NW chapter of the LRIG include gene expression analysis, combinatorial & analytical chemistry, and high throughput sequencing, screening, and proteomics. The group is based in Seattle, WA and services the entire Northwest region (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia). For more information see: www.lrig.org

About SigmaQuest

SigmaQuest (www.sigmaquest.com), a leader in product performance intelligence, is the first to enable global visibility to test and quality data for electronic systems manufacturing. The company's revolutionary "any-data, any-tester, anywhere" technology supports automated test and quality data management and analysis across multiple geographies, test equipment suppliers, and extended supply chain members. Original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers achieve lower materials costs, lower manufacturing and support costs, and faster time to revenue.