PerkinElmer Reaches Major Milestone in the Identification of Newborns

PerkinElmer, Inc., a global technology leader in Health Sciences and Photonics, today announced a major milestone in its global efforts to help identify newborns at risk for genetic disorders. The Company has determined that its neonatal screening technology, utilized in laboratories worldwide for more than 20 years, has helped to identify the 100,000th infant at risk for potentially life-threatening diseases, such as Phenylketonuria (PKU), which can have a positive outcome when intervention begins within the first 24 to 36 hours of life.

"Newborn screening for genetic disorders has become one of the most widely accepted procedures in preventative pediatrics, allowing for the early identification and treatment of otherwise devastating
disorders," said Robert F. Friel, President and Chief Operating Officer of PerkinElmer. "PerkinElmer applauds the efforts of its customers in reaching this key milestone, and remains committed to supporting the global expansion of screening programs to save lives and improve the quality of life for infants with identified disorders."

PerkinElmer is one of several organizations to support the 2004 report from the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) that recommends every baby born in the U.S. be screened for at least 29 metabolic and functional disorders, when if detected early, allow for better treatment and management options, leading to an improved quality of life. Through the advocacy of parent groups, healthcare professionals and independent organizations, the standard of care is improving, with the 2007 March of Dimes Newborn Screening Report Card showing that 87.5 percent of babies are born in states that require screening for at least 21 of these disorders, compared to about 38 percent in 2005.

"While we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of serious disorders for which babies in the United States are screened, there is still much room for improvement," said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes. "The March of Dimes is extremely appreciative of the efforts of PerkinElmer to help equip laboratories around the country with the tools and support needed to expand their newborn screening programs. Babies must receive this screening to help ensure that they can go on to lead healthy lives."

PerkinElmer is the leading supplier of neonatal screening systems to laboratories, offering the world's first and only tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) kit cleared by the FDA as an aid to screening for inborn errors of metabolism. The Company is helping to drive the advancement of metabolic disease screening with the capability to analyze more than 40 markers with just a few droplets of dried blood.
All of the approximately four million babies that are screened in the U.S. each year have their blood sample processed through a PerkinElmer system. At current rates, PerkinElmer estimates it will help identify 100,000 more infants at risk of severe disorders within the next five to seven years, though continued expansion of testing platforms and increasing legislative support for expanded programs could mean this next milestone will be reached even sooner.