Gen-Probe, a San Diego-based biotechnology company that...

Gen-Probe, a San Diego-based biotechnology company that manufactures DNA-probe diagnostic products, reported a loss of $1.3 million on revenue of $2.4 million, an improvement from the loss of $2.1 million on revenue of $1.5 million in second-quarter 1988.

Gen-Probe also said that its product sales improved to $1.2 million during the quarter from $827,000 in the same period last year. The rest of Gen-Probe’s revenue came principally from contract research. The company sells diagnostic products for a variety of diseases, including tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia, two widespread venereal diseases.

At its annual meeting Tuesday, Gen-Probe also announced that chief scientist David Kohne, who resigned last month, has rejoined the company in his former capacity and that he is likely to be named shortly to Gen-Probe’s board of directors.

For the six months ended June 30, Gen-Probe’s loss stood at $3 million on revenue of $4.6 million, contrasted with a loss of $4.3 million on revenue of $2.5 million over the same six months last year.