QIAplex Named One of the Year's Most Innovative Technologies

Market Wire, October, 2007

Wall Street Journal recognizes QIAGEN's multiplexing technology which is the basis for next generation molecular testing solutions

VENLO, The Netherlands, October 1, 2007 - QIAGEN, the worldwide leading provider of sample and assay technologies for research in life sciences, applied testing and molecular diagnostics, today announced that its QIAplex technology was acknowledged in the seventh annual Technology Innovation contest of the Wall Street Journal Technology Awards.

QIAplex, developed by QIAGEN's wholly owned subsidiary Genaco, was recognized in the category "Medical/Biotech" as one of the most innovative technologies of the year. Multiplexing allows customers to test for multiple targets in one single test. The technology is of high value for delivering rapid results in infectious disease testing and can be used when patients present symptoms that could be caused by one or more pathogens. QIAGEN's QIAplex technology is based on the widely used polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, the QIAplex technology modifies the PCR reaction and unlocks the potential of this technology to allow multiplexed testing.

"We are very proud to be recognized by the Wall Street Journal for the innovative QIAplex technology", says Peer Schatz, "Multiplexing is a truly exciting technology which is rapidly gaining ground in Molecular Diagnostics, Applied Testing and Life Sciences. It perfectly complements our overall assay technology portfolio and allows us to execute our strategy of expanding our market and technology leadership in molecular diagnostics, including in our HPV-testing franchise."

About the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation

The Wall Street Journal selected more than 800 applications from two dozen countries for the 2007 Technology Innovation Awards. Applications initially were screened by The Wall Street Journal, which narrowed the submissions to 150 semi-finalists. Then, a panel of 13 judges picked category winners and runners-up in 12 different entry categories including "Medical/Biotech". All entrants were required to offer extensive details and explain why the entry merited consideration. Judging criteria included innovativeness, clarity of explanation, whether the innovation was covered by patents and if it had achieved some measure of success. More information: www.dowjones.com/innovation .

About Genaco and QIAplex

QIAGEN acquired Genaco Biomedical Products, Inc. and its proprietary multiplexing technology in 2006 for $40 million and received eleven test panels for respiratory, hospital-acquired, and bacterial infections. These tests are currently available for research use only. QIAGEN currently develops new products based on the QIAplex platform, for which it will seeks FDA clearance in 2008. The QIAplex platform is suitable for use on a wide array of detection instruments. In February 2007, Genaco was already awarded the renowned "Frost and Sullivan innovation leadership award" for developing together with Luminex a unique solution for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays used in infectious disease testing.

About QIAGEN

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company is the leading provider of innovative sample and assay technologies and products. QIAGEN's products are considered standards in areas such as pre- analytical sample preparation and assay solutions for research in life sciences, applied testing and molecular diagnostics. QIAGEN has developed a comprehensive portfolio of more than 500 proprietary, consumable products and automated solutions for sample collection, nucleic acid and protein handling, separation, and purification and open and target specific assays. The company's products are sold to academic research markets, to leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, to applied testing customers (such as in forensics, veterinary, biodefense and industrial applications) as well as to molecular diagnostics laboratories. QIAGEN employs more than 2,600 people worldwide. QIAGEN products are sold through a dedicated sales force and a global network of distributors in more than 40 countries. In this press release QIAGEN is using the term molecular diagnostics. The use of this term is in reference to certain countries, such as the United States, limited to products subject to regulatory requirements. Current QIAGEN molecular diagnostics products are 34 EU CE IVD assays, three EU CE IVD sample preparation products, one 510k PAX RNA product, nine China SFDA IVD assays and 98 general purpose reagents. Further information about QIAGEN can be found at www.qiagen.com .

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Contact:

Dr. Thomas Theuringer
Associate Director Public Relations
Tel: 0049-2103-29-11826
Email:  thomas.theuringer@qiagen.com 

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