At its most basic definition, siRNA and microRNA screening services (commercially available siRNA library screening services) enable researchers to search and screen tens of thousands of compounds of cellular-based and biochemical assays that help keep projects, experiments, and analysis on track. The ability to choose from a variety of validated assays within a number of target classes including ion channels and nuclear receptors provide high-quality data as well as quality controls on every plate. The screening process also enhances flexibility in accommodating cellular or biochemical assay technologies.

RNAi can be used as a tool to study functions of thousands of genes in a cell. siRNA libraries composed of large numbers of siRNAs have been developed. They are used for identifying sets of genes involved in a specific biological process or metabolism of a disease.

Phenotypic high throughput siRNA screens are a dominant approach to study relationships between structure and function of genes and to identify novel parts of signaling pathways.

In fact, large-scale siRNA screening is commonly used for functional genomic and drug target validation. High throughput applications requires that reliable and reproducible transfections be performed in 96-, 384-, or 1536-well plate format. Several transfection reagents are well-suited for high-throughput shRNA, siRNA, and miRNA transfection.

Genome-wide siRNA and microRNA screening service is commercially available from Altogen Labs high throughput library screening CRO service.

A technique called reverse transfection has been developed. It allows for plating of the cells and delivery of siRNA-reagent complexes on the same day (thereby eliminating a source of high degree of variability in cell cultures and transfection efficiency).

High-throughput protein expression analysis is now commercially available (Western Blot Inc) expanding screening technology capabilities.