Promega Expands Forensic Portfolio with Distribution Agreement for NimaGen's IDseek® MPS Library Prep Kits

Agreement adds STR, SNP, microhaplotype and mitochondrial DNA MPS kits to Promega forensic product lineup

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:04am

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A highly structured abstract painting in muted earth tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex workflows and precision of forensic DNA analysis.The expanded partnership between Promega and NimaGen brings advanced DNA sequencing technology to forensic labs, enhancing their ability to analyze challenging evidence samples.Madison Today

Promega Corporation has announced a distribution agreement with NimaGen B.V. to offer the IDseek® line of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) kits for forensic casework laboratories. The IDseek® kits utilize NimaGen's patented Reverse Complement PCR (RC-PCR) technology to deliver sensitivity and specificity for challenging samples. This expands Promega's existing portfolio of sample preparation and capillary electrophoresis-based STR analysis tools.

Why it matters

This agreement allows forensic labs that already rely on Promega's products and support to access the power of MPS technology as they expand their workflows, simplifying the path to adopting advanced sequencing methods. The IDseek® kits are designed to address the sensitivity demands of forensic casework, including degraded and low-quantity samples.

The details

The IDseek® line includes over 20 products across seven application areas, including autosomal and Y-chromosomal STR profiling, microhaplotype analysis, identity informative SNP typing, and mitochondrial DNA sequencing. The RC-PCR technology enables a simplified single-tube library prep workflow compared to traditional MPS methods. Promega will leverage its global distribution network, technical support, and decades of experience serving forensic labs to help facilitate the adoption of these advanced sequencing tools.

  • The distribution agreement was announced on April 15, 2026.

The players

Promega Corporation

A leader in providing innovative solutions and technical support to the life sciences industry, with a portfolio of over 4,000 products supporting a range of life science work including forensics, molecular diagnostics, and human identification.

NimaGen B.V.

A biotechnology company specializing in innovative DNA sequencing technologies for forensic applications and human identification, headquartered in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. NimaGen holds the exclusive license for the patented Reverse Complement PCR (RC-PCR) technology.

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What they’re saying

“'For decades, we have anticipated and responded to the technologies that forensic laboratories need to produce reliable results. With this agreement, labs that have long benefited from Promega reagents, instrumentation and support can continue relying on us as they expand their workflows with massively parallel sequencing.'”

— Tim Kupferschmid, Senior Director of Genetic Identity at Promega

“'This marks an important milestone in our growth, extending our sales reach and deepening our technical capabilities to better serve customers around the world. Our RC-PCR library preparation technology fundamentally simplifies the MPS workflow, eliminating the complexity that has prevented many laboratories from transitioning to MPS. With our IDseek® MPS library prep portfolio, forensic scientists can now access the power of MPS with a workflow that resembles traditional CE methods, while increasing sample safety, sensitivity and discrimination power of forensic STR testing.'”

— Pieter van Oers, Senior Manager of Business Development – Forensics at NimaGen

What’s next

Forensic laboratories evaluating the transition to MPS-based workflows can now access NimaGen's IDseek® portfolio through their existing Promega relationship, simplifying the path to MPS adoption.

The takeaway

This distribution agreement allows forensic labs that already rely on Promega's products and support to expand their capabilities with advanced sequencing technology, while benefiting from Promega's global reach, technical expertise, and decades of experience serving the forensics industry.