The growth of Gen-Probe’s blood screening business in 2006 resulted from the commercial success of innovative new products developed by the Company’s research and development group. Blood screening sales totaled $154 million in 2006, up a solid 19% compared to 2005. The PROCLEIX WNV (West Nile virus) assay was a key driver of blood screening growth in 2006. In late 2005, this product became the first nucleic acid test (NAT) to earn approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for screening donated blood for WNV. The assay was approved to run on Gen-Probe’s semi-automated instrument system, so customers using