FARMINGDALE, N.Y., April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EpiGentek, a Farmingdale, NY-based biotech firm specializing in epigenetic research products, has launched two new kits for measuring global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation, two major mechanisms in epigenetic function. Scientists at EpiGentek have improved the company's most popular MethylFlash(TM) product line, debuting two new assay kits for ELISA-based quantification of global 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in DNA from any species.

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As a fourth generation technology of EpiGentek's popular ELISA-based global DNA methylation technique, the MethylFlash(TM) Global DNA Methylation (5-mC) ELISA Easy Kit and MethylFlash(TM) Global DNA Hydroxymethylation (5-hmC) ELISA Easy Kit have been further refined to enhance speed, accuracy, sensitivity, and convenience while still maintaining the many advantageous features of the predecessor MethylFlash(TM) kits. Since 2005, researchers have relied on MethylFlash(TM) for studies in epigenetics, which have been cited in high-impact scientific journals including Science, Nature, and Cancer Research, to overcome the costly and inconvenient downfalls of mass spectrometry and other traditional methylation analysis methods.

"We've made the new MethylFlash kits faster and easier, but accuracy is still the most important feature," commented William Lee, Vice President of Operations at EpiGentek. "Our goal is to get as close as possible to the gold standard method of HPLC-MS, and our new technology really pushes the limitation of the cost-effective and user-friendly ELISA technique to be as close to it as possible."

Notably, this "one-step" reaction assay eliminates the traditional ELISA's requirement for multiple sample and antibody binding steps, thereby significantly mitigating handling time to just 2 hours, achieving a 50% decrease in protocol time versus the previous MethylFlash(TM) kits, while being able to detect methylated and hydroxymethylated DNA at picogram levels.

The worldwide epigenetics market is expected to be worth $16.31 billion by the year 2022 according to Grand View Research, Inc. Epigenetic research has expanded rapidly and, with the maturation of next-generation sequencing technologies, has become increasingly prevalent in exploring potential drug treatments for cancer and other diseases. Aberrant levels of 5-mC and 5-hmC, for instance, have long been linked to cancer and can be used as a valuable biomarker for the disease. Subsequently, the improved speed and accuracy of the new MethylFlash(TM) ELISA Easy kits from EpiGentek can help bolster progress towards applying epigenetic evidence to clinical applications and, ultimately, transform this research into valuable therapies.

For more information on the improved features and the working principle of the MethylFlash(TM), readers can visit: https://www.epigentek.com/methylflash

EpiGentek will be at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting this year at Booth #2639.

About EpiGentek Group Inc.
EpiGentek is a New York-based biotechnology company that focuses on developing and providing innovative technologies, services, and products as a complete and systematic solution for epigenetic related research and drug discovery. Visit the informative website at http://www.epigentek.com

Media Contact:
Bailey Kirkpatrick
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SOURCE EpiGentek Group Inc.