Gene expression profiling plays a pivotal role in unfolding the molecular mechanisms of the biologic systems and disease models. However, the conventional microarray (gene chip), with tens of thousands irrelevant genes on an array, can be intimidating to an individual researcher, let alone the prohibitive price to accomplish an assay. Industry experts have predicted the arise of "second generation" arrays that are more focused, application-specific and low-cost. This lays fundamental philosophy of our product design and has made us a successful and leading provider of focused gene arrays. We select cDNA fragment and design the arrays by a simple rule: they are from known biological processes, and stay focused on specific biological pathways which are being studied by biologists.

The design of gene array product is a process of compiling and distilling biochemical knowledge. To ensure our products being comprehensive, focused and up-to-date, scientists at SABiosciences go through extensive literature research, correspondence with experts in the field and participation in research conferences. Nevertheless our product development is also user oriented, thriving on being able to meet the fast-changing demands of the research community. This is helped by maintaining a highly efficient communication with research community.

To maintain a high stardard of reliability, sensitivity and specificity of our arrays, we choose the cDNA fragments from 300bp to 600bp using computer algorithms to minimize cross-hybridization. Sometimes sequences outside the coding region are included to make all the cDNA sequence unique for each gene. All the cDNA fragments spotted on our cDNA array are indexed by Genbank accession numbers to allow the end-user to validate the cDNA array data with independent methods, such as Northern Blot, or Real-time RT-PCR.

Arrays are manufactured by the synQUADTM technology from Cartesian Technologies (a Genomic Solutions company). This ink-jet, non-contact nanoliter (nl) dispensing system is known for high spotting reproducibility. An in-house test of spot (1 ul per spot) reproducibility by Cartesian Technologies (shown in Figure A, Application Note D-106) measures the coefficient of variation for each pin spot to be around 2.4 (% CV). For tetra-spot (15 nl per spot) format (Q Series) on the nylon membrane and non-rad detection method, the %CV value is around 9 (Figure B and C).