Bluechiip enters sample tracking tie-up

Bluechiip (ASX:BCT) has partnered with Swiss laboratory systems developer Inpeco, agreeing to explore jointly developing Inpeco products with integrated Bluechiip tracking chips.

The companies are already complementary in their products. Inpeco manufactures systems for the automation of clinical laboratories, such as biological sample processing. Around 500 clinical labs worldwide use its technology.

Bluechiip is a wireless tracking technology capable of operating in extreme temperatures, such as might be found in sample storage and processing laboratories. The chips are also uniquely capable of monitoring and keeping track of the temperatures of samples.

According to Inpeco president Andrea Pedrazzini, the company hopes to use the tracking technology to fulfil several unmet needs of its clientele.

“We see a tremendous opportunity in the area of automation for the storing and retrieving of huge quantities of biological samples at very low temperatures for very long periods, up to many years; a process which at the time being is still performed manually with inefficiency and risk of errors,” Pedrazzini said.

Current solutions such as labels and barcodes are poorly suited to this task, as they are liable to fall off or erode when exposed to frost.

Since going public in June 2011, Bluechiip has picked up some promising early deals for its tracking chips, including a project to supply its technology to the Australian Synchrotron and a strategic partnership with US CRO Gentris Corporation.

Research firm Frost & Sullivan recently forecast that the global automation market for biobanking applications will grow from $818 million in 2011 to $1.42 billion by 2016.

Bluechiip (ASX:BCT) shares were trading 4% higher at 26c as of around 2pm on Friday.