Molecular Probes, a subsidiary of Invitrogen Corp. of Carlsbad, Calif., has formed a partnership with Caliper Life Sciences Inc. of Hopkinton, Mass. Under the agreement, the latter company will market fluorescence probe kits developed and manufactured by its partner to its specifications. Designed for use with Caliper’s Ivis optical imaging systems in small-animal studies, the kits should allow scientists to more accurately identify and tag specific molecular targets in vivo.

Invitrogen also has entered into an agreement with Mauna Kea Technologies of Paris to promote the use of its fluorescent reagents with the French company’s fiber optic fluorescence microscopy platform for real-time in situ applications.