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BUSINESS DESCRIPTION (Notes)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Business Description and Basis of Presentation
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Business Description.
Transgenomic, Inc. is a global biotechnology company advancing personalized medicine in the detection and treatment of cancer and inherited diseases through its proprietary molecular technologies and clinical and research services. We have two complementary business segments:
Laboratory Services. Our clinical laboratories specialize in genetic testing for cardiology, neurology, mitochondrial disorders and oncology. Our clinical laboratories located in New Haven, Connecticut and Omaha, Nebraska are certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) as high complexity labs and our Omaha facility is also accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Our laboratory located in Omaha, Nebraska also provides pharmacogenomics research services supporting Phase II and Phase III clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies. Our laboratories employ a variety of genomic testing service technologies, including ICE COLD-PCR technology. ICE COLD-PCR is a proprietary platform technology that can be run in any laboratory with standard PCR technology and that enables detection of mutations from virtually any sample type including tissue biopsies, blood and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) at levels greater than 1,000-fold higher than standard DNA sequencing techniques.
Diagnostic Tools. Our proprietary product is the WAVE® System, which has broad applicability to genetic variation detection in both molecular genetic research and molecular diagnostics. We also distribute bioinstruments produced by other manufacturers (“OEM Equipment”) through our sales and distribution network. Service contracts to maintain installed systems are sold and supported by our technical support personnel. The installed WAVE base and some OEM Equipment platforms generate a demand for consumables that are required for the continued operation of the bioinstruments. We develop, manufacture and sell these consumable products. In addition, we manufacture and sell consumable products that can be used on multiple, independent platforms. These products include SURVEYOR® Nuclease and a range of chromatography columns.