HandyLab

HandyLab, Inc. operated as a developer and manufacturer of molecular diagnostic assays and automation platforms, originating as a spin-off from the University of Michigan in 1999. The company was founded by Kalyan Handique and Sundaresh Brahmasandra. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, HandyLab focused on creating miniature laboratory testing kits that utilized patented microfluidic and real-time PCR technologies.

The firm's core product was the Jaguar™ platform, a fully integrated and automated system for molecular diagnostics. This bench-top instrument was designed for hands-off operation, handling everything from clinical sample preparation and nucleic acid extraction to microfluidic real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and detection. The platform's objective was to enable minimally-skilled personnel to perform complex diagnostic tests on clinical specimens in approximately 40-60 minutes, a significant reduction in time compared to conventional systems. Its design accommodated both on-demand testing and batch workflows, providing flexibility for clinical laboratories, its primary client base.

HandyLab's business model centered on the manufacturing and sale of these diagnostic instruments and the associated assays. The company secured significant venture capital funding across multiple rounds, totaling over $40 million from investors including Ardesta, EDF Ventures, Arboretum Ventures, and the Wolverine Venture Fund, which were crucial for its development. A major milestone was the strategic acquisition of the company by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) in November 2009 for $275 million. Following the acquisition, BD planned to integrate its own molecular assays for infections like MRSA and C. difficile onto the HandyLab platform, rebranding it as the BD MAX™ system.

Keywords: molecular diagnostics, diagnostic assays, automation platforms, microfluidics, real-time PCR, nucleic acid extraction, infectious disease detection, point-of-care testing, laboratory automation, clinical diagnostics, in-vitro diagnostics, University of Michigan spin-off, Jaguar platform, BD MAX system, healthcare-associated infections, medical device manufacturing, venture capital, Becton Dickinson, life sciences, biotechnology