Conversion of capillary electrophoresis microchip genotyping data for analysis with Genetic Profiler (TM) software

The collection and conversion 4-color fluorescent genotyping data from capi llary array electrophoresis microchip devices and its conversion to a forma t easily and rapidly analyzed by Genetic Profiler(TM) genotyping software a re is presented. Il Microchip fluorescence intensity data are acquired and stored as I-color tab-delimited text. These files are converted to electrop horetic signal data (ESD) files using a utility program (TEXT-to-ESD) writt en in C. TEXT-to-ESD generates an ESD file by converting text data to binar y? data and then appending a 632-byte ESD-file trailer. Up to 96 ESD files are then assembled into a run folder and imported into Genetic Profiler. wh ere data are reduced to 4-color electropher tropherograms and analyzed. In this manner DNA fragment sizing data acquired with our hiph-speed electroph oretic microchip devices can be rapidly analyzed using robust commercial so ftware. Additionally: the conversion program allows sizing of data with Gen etic Profiler that have been preprocessed using other third-party software are, such as BaseFinder.