IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CombiMatrix Corporation (CBMX), a molecular diagnostics company performing DNA-based testing services for cancer and developmental disorders, today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Pathology, Inc. whereby Pathology, Inc. will market and distribute CombiMatrix chromosomal microarray tests for the Products of Conception (POC) testing market in designated geographic areas. The POC testing market is a subset of the overall prenatal testing market.

The two-year agreement gives Pathology, Inc. the exclusive right to market or distribute the microarray tests on behalf of CombiMatrix in the states of California and Nevada and the St. Louis and Chicago metropolitan areas. Pathology, Inc. is a full-service, independent Women's Health laboratory based in Torrance, California.

POC testing allows OB/GYN physicians and other women's health clinicians to better determine if there is a genetic cause behind a miscarriage or multiple events. As in other areas of prenatal genetic analysis, microarray testing is believed by many to be the coming standard of care as it identifies a greater number of possible genetic abnormalities more accurately than traditional methods.

"This agreement allows us to better serve the POC market, a very important area of specialty for our physician customers and their patients," said Vicki DiFrancesco, President and CEO of Pathology, Inc. "Our commercial team, along with operational and analytical support of CombiMatrix, will result in broadening the use and acceptance of chromosomal microarray testing as a better solution. We believe this partnership will prove to be a beneficial expansion of services and customer access for both of our companies."

CombiMatrix President and CEO R. Judd Jessup noted that the agreement with Pathology, Inc. enables CombiMatrix to broaden its geographic reach and expand its access to the Women's Health market.

"Working closely with Pathology, Inc. allows us to immediately expand our marketing efforts in the prenatal market for POC testing throughout important areas like California and Nevada and densely populated metropolitan areas like St. Louis and Chicago," Jessup said. "Furthermore, this will improve our speed of access to Pathology, Inc.'s established customer base of OB/GYNs. Finally, we believe this agreement offers CombiMatrix and Pathology, Inc. the opportunity to educate the pathologists in their network about the advantages of using the POC test compared to the historic, traditional standard of karyotyping in the prenatal market."

The agreement calls for both companies to participate in sales force training and market development activities and indicates that Pathology, Inc. will generate a minimum amount of tests each quarter in order to maintain the exclusive arrangement.

About Pathology, Inc.

Pathology, Inc. is a full-service provider of anatomic and clinical pathology testing services, with a 30-year foundation in the Women's Health market. With expertise in molecular and digital pathology, the Company has built a solid reputation for quality and customer service with clients that include OB/Gyns, dermatologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, and family practitioners, as well as surgicenters, endoscopy centers, hospitals, and independent laboratories. Pathology, Inc. is located at three separate facilities; its Torrance headquarters, a second facility in Templeton, CA (Central Coast Clinical Laboratories) and a third laboratory in Monrovia, CA. All three facilities are CLIA certified and CAP accredited. Pathology, Inc.'s pathologists, through its association with Affiliated Pathologists Medical Group (APMG), are all board certified and have a variety of multi-specialty interests and expertise, as well as extensive cumulative experience in outpatient pathology. Pathology, Inc. has provided pathology services to physician offices and pathologists for over 25 years.

About CombiMatrix Corporation

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CombiMatrix and Pathology, Inc. Form Partnership to Market and Distribute Prenatal Tests