Gen-Probe was founded in 1983 as a partnership by Dr. David E. Kohne, Dr. Thomas H. Adams, and Howard C. Birndorf. In 1985, Gen-Probe received clearance to market the first clinical diagnostic test using a DNA probe. The company became publicly traded in 1987, and the PACE tests were launched in 1988. In 1989, Gen-Probe was acquired by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. for $110 million. In September 2002, Gen-Probe completed a spin-off from Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., and began trading on the Nasdaq National Market.