FOSTER CITY, Calif., June 29 -- Applied Biosystems Group, an Applera Corp. business, and Cohesive Technologies announced a strategic alliance through the Applied Biosystems/MDS-SCIEX joint venture. This alliance is based on complementary products to provide customers with a complete high-throughput solution for the bioanalysis marketplace. The Cohesive Aria Series parallel HPLC, combined with any of the Applied Biosystems liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer (LC/MS) systems, including the new API 4000 LC/MS/MS system, is expected to increase sample throughput. A key element of the alliance is the software integration between components of the overall system that allows data merging. The Aria system comprises four independent HPLC modules in a staggered parallel configuration that is linked by a common operating system. This operating system allows the MS to acquire data continuously. Coupled with its TurboFlow technology, the Aria system accommodates untreated biological fluids, potentially eliminating costly and labor-intensive sample preparation steps. Cohesive Technologies will provide installation, applications support, methods development, and service for the Aria system. Applied Biosystems/MDS-SCIEX will provide similar support for the mass spectrometer. This cooperation also includes design enhancements for either component to ensure optimal performance of the total system.