New Milton company Genetix is supplying equipment that is playing a key role in finding a cure and vaccine treatment for the SARS virus.

The company is at the cutting edge of developing automated techniques for understanding human systems biology and has made a significant contribution to research into human genes by supplying high-throughput equipment to seven of the leading eight laboratories involved.

Scientific director Dr Julian Burke said Genetix's equipment has played a key role in determining the Sars virus's genetic code.

"It is important to determine the structure of the virus,'' he said.

"The sequence will allow diagnostic tests to be developed so that infected patients can be rapidly recognised

and treated in an appropriate manner."

He said scientists at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg and the BC Cancer Agency Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences are using Genetix machines to help anal-

yse the DNA of the bacteria in the virus.

"The sequence was determined very rapidly, in around six days.

"For a virus of this size, this is a fantastic achievement. It means that as new viruses emerge, diagnostics can be developed very rapidly and infection monitored."

Genetix had developed a range of equipment for analysing cellular processes in a systematic manner.

Genetix headquarters are on the Stem Lane industrial estate at New Milton and it has offices in the United States and Germany.