During the early 1980’s scientists at the then University of Wales College of Medicine (UWCM) developed methods of using light-emitting (chemiluminescent) molecules as alternatives to radioactive isotopes in diagnostic laboratory tests. UWCM recognised the commercial potential of this chemiluminescence technology and filed international patent applications to protect the intellectual property. The Molecular Light Technology group was set up in 1989 to exploit the technology through licensing agreements and further development in-house.

 The chemiluminescence technology has had an enormous impact on clinical diagnostic test methods and is used globally in licensees’ products. This has resulted in significant income for both MLT and UWCM. The technology forms the basis of a wide range of analytical test products which are used in a diverse range of applications from the measurement of hormones to the detection of micro-organisms. The success of the Chemiluminescence Technology and its exploitation was recognised by the award of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 1998 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

 During this time MLT has continued to further exploit and develop the use of chemiluminescence technology in research, pharmaceutical and environmental testing applications and presently employs 32 people in its Cardiff facility.

 One of the Group’s licensees, Gen-Probe Inc (a US corporation based in San Diego), took equity in MLT during the 1990s and has recently acquired the Company in its entirety. Gen-Probe has been particularly successful in using chemiluminescence in combination with its own gene-based technologies to develop rapid microbiological test kits to be used by clinical testing laboratories. Gen-Probe presently holds a 55% market share of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea (sexually-transmitted infections) testing and an 80% market share of blood-bank (hepatitis C and HIV) testing in the US. In November 2005, President George W. Bush named Gen-Probe a 2004 National Medal of Technology Laureate in recognition of the Company's pioneering work in the development and commercialization of new blood-testing technologies. The National Medal of Technology is the US's highest honor for technological innovation.

 Gen-Probe and MLT are committed to the expansion of their technologies into other arenas and in particular the industrial testing sector. As part of this strategy MLT will this year be launching a novel, rapid test method for the detection of contamination of recreational water with human sewage. Using proprietary nucleic amplification and detection technology, the test can detect the presence of Enterococcus bacteria which are indicator organisms for human sewage. Presently, laboratories use microbiological culture techniques which require 24 – 48 hours to yield a result. By contrast the MLT test yields results within four hours.

 The technologies used by Gen-Probe and MLT in the past have had a major impact on clinical testing and future work will ensure that industrial testing will also be able to benefit from the unique advantages of these innovative technologies.