In June 2008, Blueshift Biotechnologies, Inc. was acquired by MDS Analytical Technologies Inc. The firm had been adapting semiconductor inspection technology to develop powerful new screening platforms for life sciences research. Based on Dynamic Fluorimetry, which denotes measurements beyond intensity and color: specifically anisotropy and lifetime, measurements made from these methods provide information on the local environment and binding state of molecules. Effecting strategic alliances for products important to genomic, proteomics, cytomics, and diagnostic applications, Blueshift also offered IsoCyte, a laser scanning cytometer that enables real-time assays for microarray, bead, cell, and colony classification and enumeration in user-defined or commercially available formats; and ToxCount, a cell viability assay that provides reagents to perform a two-color fluorescence cell viability assay.
