Clongen Laboratories Announces Formation of Separate Clinical Diagnostics and Contract Research Divisions

GERMANTOWN, Maryland, November 15, 2011 -

Since its inception in 1999, Clongen Laboratories, a CLIA licensed facility with a Maryland Clinical Laboratory license, has focused on improving human health by refining diagnostic tests for infectious diseases and providing contract research services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, government, and academic institutions.

The advanced molecular diagnostics technology Clongen Laboratories uses in their Clinical Diagnostics Division offers a powerful tool in the screening of a wide range of infectious diseases. This allows healthcare practitioners to better diagnose and treat their patients.  One of the main areas of focus in the Clinical Diagnostics Division is tick borne illness testing; however, Clongen Laboratories also offers a large number of other assays, some not offered anywhere else in the US.  The technology platform Clongen Laboratories uses in the Clinical Diagnostics Division is Real Time PCR.  According to Ahmed Kilani, PhD, founder and director of Clongen Labs, this platform allows Clongen Laboratories to rapidly detect infectious agents in clinical samples at very low copy numbers.  The clinician receives laboratory test results in less than a week from the time of sample receipt.  This quick turnaround offers physicians the opportunity to manage clinical cases without delay.

Clongen Laboratories contract research services are performed under GLP and GMP conditions and encompass a wide range of assays available to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, government and academic institutions.  Services include sterility testing, Mycoplasma detection and elimination, Endotoxin testing and removal, and many others.  In recent years, due to the increased risk of bio-warfare agents, Clongen Laboratories developed rapid real time PCR based assays for the detection of all Bio-warfare select agents listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The contract research division has grown over the years and now covers a large number of established assays; many are required for lot release of biological and pharmaceutical products.  

The company has been enjoying steady growth and will soon obtain licensure in five additional states.  In addition, Clongen Laboratories is establishing satellite facilities in several other states. According to Dr. Kilani, the mission of Clongen Laboratories, which is to promote improved health through better diagnostic testing and research, has remained consistent since the laboratory was established.

Clongen Laboratories began with less than 10 assay offerings.  Today, the clinical diagnostics division offers more than 250 assays for the detection of infectious agents using state of the art technology. In addition to the Molecular Diagnostics offerings, Clongen Laboratories has a licensed routine Microbiology laboratory for the culture and identification of bacteria, yeast and fungi.  

Recent changes to the company’s website reflect changes to the organizational structure of the laboratory.  There are two sub-sites for the two business units, the Clinical Diagnostics Division and the Contract Research Division, which are physically and administratively separate.

The two business units perform distinct functions and can be seen at www.Clongen.com

Contact:  Ahmed Kilani, Ph.D., President and Laboratory Director at +1-301-916-0173 or e-mail akil@clongen.com  

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