Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) market clearance for the VeraCode(R) Genotyping Test for Factor V (Leiden) and Factor II (Prothrombin). The VeraCode Genotyping Test is comprised of the company’s VeraCode digital microbead technology and proprietary assay chemistry. The BeadXpress(R) System, which received a separate 510(k) market clearance, is FDA-cleared for in vitro diagnostic use only with the VeraCode Genotyping Test for Factor V and Factor II.

Luminex Corporation (Nasdaq: LMNX), the worldwide leader in multiplexed solutions, and High Throughput Genomics, Inc. (HTG), provider of the quantitative Nuclease Protection Assay (qNPA(TM)), today launched a new custom gene expression product, the qBead Gene Expression Assay (qBead Assay). The companies co-developed the product and have signed an exclusive distribution agreement in which Luminex will begin offering it to the research community.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that its acquisition of scientific-equipment maker Varian, Inc. is now final, positioning Agilent as a leading provider of analytical instrumentation to the applied and life sciences markets. Agilent paid approximately $1.5 billion in cash for Varian in a deal that brings together two Silicon Valley pioneers.

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALP), a leading provider of tools and services for drug discovery and life sciences research, today announced that its Caliper Discovery Alliances and Services (CDAS) unit has been awarded a new funding commitment for $2.9 million under its contract with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the EPA’s ToxCast screening program. Together with an initial Phase II task order awarded in November 2009, this new task order increases the cumulative funding Caliper has been awarded under Phase II of the ToxCast program to $4.7 million.

Pathway announced Tuesday that it was going to start selling a saliva collection kit in Walgreen’s this week (everywhere except New York) so we could all start gathering our DNA and sending it to Pathway to get tested.

Sequenom, Inc. (Nasdaq: SQNM) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to issue and sell an aggregate of 12,435,000 shares of its common stock at $4.15 per share to certain investors. The aggregate gross proceeds of the private placement are expected to be approximately $51.6 million. Sequenom intends to use the net proceeds from the financing to advance its research, development and commercialization of various diagnostic tests, as well as for general corporate purposes. Subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, the private placement is expected to close on or about May 17, 2010.

Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFFX) today announced that it has delivered the first custom array designed for a 100,000-sample genotyping project to be performed using the Axiom(TM) Genotyping Solution. The array, optimized for European populations, was developed in conjunction with researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) as part of an NIH-funded project to create a new resource for studying disease, health, and aging.

Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) market clearance for the company’s BeadXpress system for multiplex genetic analysis. According to the FDA’s indications of use, the BeadXpress system - consisting of Illumina’s BeadXpress Reader and VeraScan software - is an in-vitro diagnostic device intended for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes in a DNA sample utilizing VeraCode holographic microbead technology.

Family Tree DNA, the first and largest genealogical DNA testing company, today announced the launch of the Family Finder DNA test for connecting family members across all ancestral lines. The test utilizes Affymetrix’ (NASDAQ:AFFX) recently launched Axiom(TM) genotyping technology and the GeneTitan(R) System to confidently match a wide range of family relationships within five generations.

Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) today announced the webcast of its presentation at the Deutsche Bank Securities 35th Annual Health Care Conference in Boston.

Doug Farrell, Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasury, will present on Tuesday May 4th at 4:10p ET. To hear a live webcast of the presentation, visit the investor relations page on the Company’s Web site at http://www.affymetrix.com. An archived webcast will be available for 30 days.

Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced the appointments of Elizabeth Brady as vice president, Global Supply Chain, and Emily S. Winn-Deen, Ph.D., as vice president, Diagnostics Development.

Source: Illumina

Genomic Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GHDX) today announced that the company will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, May 5 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its first quarter 2010 financial results. The call and webcast will follow the release of the first quarter financial results after market close.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, reported that first quarter revenues increased 19% to a record $2.68 billion in 2010, compared with $2.26 billion in the 2009 quarter. Revenues increased 3% due to the favorable effect of currency translation, and increased an additional 3% due to acquisitions.

—BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) today reported quarterly revenues of $1.845 billion for the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010, representing an increase of 7.0 percent from the prior-year period, or 6.6 percent on a foreign currency-neutral basis.