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Agilent Technologies and Midwest Research Institute Announce Project in Homeland Security, Biodefense

Business Wire, Feb 2, 2005

PALO ALTO, Calif. & KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) and Midwest Research Institute (MRI), a leading center for biological and chemical defense research in the United States, today announced a project to evaluate instrumentation for use in the areas of homeland security and biodefense.

Agilent provided MRI with the Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer and Agilent 5100 automated lab on a chip in order to evaluate the capability of the analytical instruments in high-throughput pathogen detection. In return, MRI provided feedback on the performance of these instruments in biodefense applications.

As part of this project, MRI's scientists and engineers have worked with Agilent's product development team to evaluate the performance of the Agilent 5100, testing it in field conditions where it was subjected to a level of real-world demand not available in Agilent's development labs.

"Based on our evaluation, we've concluded that the Agilent 5100 automated LOC platform is a promising instrument for automated high-throughput sample screening in biodefense applications," said Steve Lufkin, MRI's senior vice president of technology and strategic business development.

MRI put the instrument through the rigorous paces of its high-throughput monitoring of biological-threat agents using its multiplexing PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Multiplexing PCR provides for the detection of multiple DNA signatures associated with a single agent or multiple agents. During the evaluation, nearly 1,500 PCR assays were run using about 500 environmental samples.

"Multiplexing PCR is definitely on the radar screen of the industry involved in biodefense analysis work," said Lufkin. "Within the biodefense environment, there is an urgent need to balance accuracy with the cost and speed of collecting and analyzing volumes of critical information. It is essential to have bioanalysis equipment, such as the Agilent 5100, that makes full use of our multiplexing capabilities."

About Midwest Research Institute

Midwest Research Institute (MRI) is an independent, not-for-profit laboratory that has conducted scientific research for government and industry since 1944. Its programs span the areas of national security and defense, life sciences, energy, engineering, and agriculture and food safety. MRI has managed and operated the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy since 1977. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., MRI has additional laboratories in Florida and Maryland. More information is available at www.mriresearch.org.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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