Fluidigm Introduces New TOPAZ Protein Crystallization Chip That Provides a "Screen to Beam" Solution

Protein Structures Can Provide Keys to Understanding and Preventing Diseases of
Catastrophic Proportions
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
In the rarified world of protein crystal hunters, Fluidigm`s TOPAZ system is the
tool that has helped researchers solve the structures of proteins from the Ebola
Virus and Avian Flu Influenza. Now Fluidigm is introducing its new 1.96
Diffraction Capable (DC) integrated fluidic circuit which will allow researchers
something they have long sought - direct screen-to-beam capabilities without the
need to physically harvest a crystal from the device.

The TOPAZ system has long been recognized for providing the industry`s most
efficient screening method -- Free Interface Diffusion (FID). The system samples
crystallization space more broadly while using significantly less protein sample
than any other products on the market. It therefore finds protein crystals more
efficiently than any other offering. These microscopic crystals can hold the key
to understanding and possibly preventing diseases of catastrophic proportions,
such as influenza epidemics.

Fluidigm`s new TOPAZ 1.96 DC chip provides the ability to obtain high quality in
situ, diffraction data, thus allowing true "hands off" diffraction-based
screening. "The TOPAZ 1.96 DC chip gives researchers the ability to screen
broadly to find protein crystals and then immediately expose their targets to an
x-ray source directly through the chip," noted Gajus Worthington, Fluidigm
president and chief executive officer. "The 1.96 DC chip finally allows
screening decisions to be based on data rather than guesswork."

"We have been using Fluidigm`s 1.96 DC chip for several months. Its ability to
allow diffraction-based screening has been a tremendous benefit to our
research," said James Berger, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California,
Berkeley. "The TOPAZ 1.96 DC chip is a game-changer that has allowed us to solve
structures much more quickly than before because we can immediately concentrate
our efforts on crystals that provide the highest quality diffraction data from
the outset."

Diffraction-based screening is made possible because the Fluidigm 1.96 DC chip
uses advanced chip design techniques. The chip materials and dimensions have
been chosen to optimize its performance for in situ diffraction, allowing the
entire chip to be placed directly in the path of an X-ray beam. If necessary,
"cut-outs" of the chip can be made to fit onto pins, which can be cryopreserved
and placed onto standard goniometer heads for data collection.

The Fluidigm 1.96 DC chip is the newest addition to the company`s TOPAZ System
which consists of chips, hardware and software that simplify and automate
nanoscale free interface diffusion.

About Fluidigm

Fluidigm develops, manufactures and markets proprietary Integrated Fluidic
Circuit (IFC) systems that significantly improve productivity in life science
research. Fluidigm`s IFCs enable the simultaneous performance of thousands of
sophisticated biochemical measurements in extremely minute volumes. These
"integrated circuits for biology" are made possible by miniaturizing and
integrating liquid handling components on a single microfabricated device
(chip). Fluidigm`s IFC systems, consisting of instrumentation, software and
single-use IFCs, increase throughput, decrease costs and enhance sensitivity
compared to conventional laboratory systems. Fluidigm products have not been
cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a diagnostic
and are only available for research use.

For more information, please visit www.Fluidigm.com.

Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, Topaz, BioMark, Dynamic Array, Digital Array,
Access Array and NanoFlex are trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation and all other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Fluidigm Corp.
Howard High, 650-266-6081 (office)
510-786-7378 (mobile)

Copyright Business Wire 2009