NanoString technology enables identification and quantification of individual target molecules in a biological sample by attaching a color coded fluorescent reporter to each target molecule. This approach is similar to the concept of measuring inventory by scanning barcodes. Reporters can be made with hundreds or even thousands of different codes allowing for highly multiplexed analysis.

The key highlights of the technology include:

• No enzymology
• No amplification
• Digital data output

The major benefits of the assay are:

• High degree of multiplexing
• Very high sensitivity
• Low amount of starting material
• Extremely simple, short assay