Genetic Testing Services >> Harlan Gencheck™ Gene Expression Services

Gene expression services have become a widely used approach for making predictions, characterizing biological perturbations and defining the molecular mechanisms of complex diseases. Whether your laboratory is using a mouse or rat model of disease, human primary cell culture or other species to address your scientific questions, we have a gene expression solution for you. The Harlan GenCheck™ Gene Expression Services program has assembled a team of scientists who are experts in gene expression technology and analysis to provide comprehensive research services to suit your needs.

The Harlan GenScreen™ program provides gene expression services using a variety of high, moderate and low throughput technologies to meet your gene expression needs. The Harlan GenCheck™ Gene Expression program begins with a one-on-one consultation with a Harlan gene expression expert to identify the appropriate technology, experimental design and program goals to ensure that your experimental needs will be met. You will then be guided through the selection of services below to build a custom gene expression workflow for your project. Once your program has been defined, you can provide your RNA or tissue samples using your own vessels or preregistered plates that will be provided for you.

Harlan GenCheck™ Ultrapure RNA Isolation
Harlan GenCheck™ RNA Isolation is performed in an automated fashion utilizing state of the art liquid handling robots. Both organic and inorganic approaches are used to isolate high quality RNA depending on your research model tissue type. Following extraction, all samples are quality controlled for concentration and purity. All RNA isolates are catalogued in 2-D barcoded tube racks ensuring accuracy and easy identification of archived samples used for additional testing. Efficiency of high quality RNA extraction is routinely monitored and to date our Harlan GenScreen™ program has successfully extracted high quality RNA from over 50,000 samples. All RNA samples are archived for six months, giving the investigator time to interpret gene expression results and perform further experimentation if desired.

Harlan GenCheck™ cDNA Amplification: Gateway for Gene Expression Services
All RNA submitted to the Harlan GenCheck™ program is subjected to quality analysis by the Agilent Bioanalyzer. Upon confirmation of high quality RNA, the Harlan GenScreen™ team takes the first and most important step toward measuring gene expression in your samples. The Harlan GenScreen™ program has partnered with NuGEN Inc. to provide a complete modular solution for cDNA amplification. The linearly amplified cDNA is stable, and can be employed for any downstream gene expression applications including but not limited to DNA microarrays and RT-QPCR, ensuring the highest technological reproducibility across platforms. All cDNA is measured for fidelity via a panel of QPCR assays prior to any high throughput analysis, which ensures the utmost reproducibility in the processing of your samples.

Finally, all cDNA is archived for future testing by Harlan GenScreen™ or distributed to your own laboratory for additional testing.

Harlan GenCheck™ DNA Microarrays
The Harlan GenScreen™ program offers a comprehensive selection of DNA microarray services. The primary commercial array offerings include microarrays by Applied Biosystems, Affymetrix and Agilent. The combined, diverse offering of species and informatics associated with these platforms ensures that we have a technology that meets your analytical needs. A Harlan GenCheck™ gene expression consultant will work with you to identify the correct technology for your application. In addition, the Harlan GenCheck™ program offers a full microRNA array service using the latest technology available. All array services include quality control of array performance data and access to secure Web-based tools for your statistical, clustering and pathway analysis needs.

Harlan GenCheck™ Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-QPCR)
The Harlan GenScreen™ program offers a complete real-time quantitative RT-QPCR service. Harlan GenCheck™ RT-QPCR service begins with an extensive consultation to ensure that the most efficient and sensitive technologies are employed for your RT-QPCR experiments. Applied Biosystems 7900HT sequence detection systems are used and boast a 384 well plate capacity with automation for continuous plate loading. The Harlan GenCheck™ RT-QPCR program offers an assay design service for SYBR, Taqman® and MGB chemistries and has a library of over 5,000 prevalidated assays to choose from. In addition, the Roche Universal Probe Library is employed for high throughput screening projects, and is an all inclusive service providing the most sensitive solution with no additional assay design fees and rapid turn around times. All RT-QPCR reactions are prepared using sophisticated liquid handling robots boasting low CV’s for reaction replicates. For ultra-high throughput screening applications the Harlan GenCheck™ RT-QPCR program supports Applied Biosystems Taqman® Low Density Arrays (TLDA) in both custom and preformatted designs. Whether you are looking to measure a few genes in a few samples, or hundreds of genes in a large study, the Harlan GenCheck™ RT-QPCR program has the technology and capacity to generate data you can rely on. Last year the Harlan GenCheck™ RT-QPCR team successfully performed over 1.2 million RT-QPCR reactions.

Harlan GenCheck™ Bioinformatics Services
All investigators will acknowledge that data analysis is the most critical component of any gene expression experiment. To this end, the Harlan GenScreen™ team has assembled bioinformatics experts in gene expression analysis to train your team on analytical tools, provide analytical services or answer questions regarding your data set. The bioinformatics services group provides support for all gene expressions services and can provide time and cost estimates for services on specific projects. The bioinformatics team provides experimental design consultation, data formatting/normalization and basic analysis as a routine part of our services.

Whatever your gene expression needs, the Harlan GenCheck™ Gene Expression Services program is prepared to help you at every step of the way and provide high quality data for your research program.

For additional information, please contact Harlan at 1-800-473-6423.