BD and Lab21 Collaborate to Develop Aspergillus Assay for New BD MAX™ Molecular Testing System

BALTIMORE and CAMBRIDGE, England, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BD Diagnostics, a segment of global medical technology company BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), and Lab21, a global leader in personalized healthcare, announced today a collaboration to develop a state-of-the-art molecular diagnostic assay to detect the life-threatening Aspergillus fungus using the new fully automated BD MAX™ Molecular Testing System.

"The potential to detect Aspergillus in blood using real-time polymerase chain reaction is a topic of great interest to clinicians since it offers faster, more sensitive and more accurate diagnostic and screening strategies for the early and definitive detection of aspergillosis," said Graham Mullis, CEO of Lab21.

Infection caused by Aspergillus is a leading cause of infectious death in immunocompromised patients, with an estimated 10 million people at risk globally each year. Studies have shown that diagnosis of Aspergillus infection followed by antifungal treatment within the first 10 days of infection reduces mortality from 90 percent to 40 percent – highlighting the need for rapid, accurate testing. Real-time polymerase chain reaction may offer significant advantages in sensitivity and specificity over the current culture techniques.

"This agreement with Lab21 is designed to add an innovative molecular test to the BD MAX System's growing test menu that will empower clinicians and laboratory professionals with rapid, accurate information on which to base important treatment decisions," said Tom Polen, President, BD Diagnostics – Diagnostic Systems. "By collaborating with best-in-class in vitro diagnostics developers such as Lab21, our goal is to make the BD MAX System an indispensible tool in clinical laboratories by providing them with an ever-expanding test menu on a fully automated platform."

According to Polen, BD plans to bring new assays to the BD MAX System in a broad range of disease categories.  With this announcement, there are now more than 14 assays in the BD MAX System's content-rich menu pipeline. Combined with open capability, full automation and standardized workflow, BD MAX System will enable laboratories to consolidate and standardize their molecular tests to build programs that meet both their current and future clinical needs.

About BD

BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

About Lab21

Lab21 is a global leader in personalised healthcare. It provides diagnostic products and services and supports blood bank screening, medical diagnostics and drug discovery. Lab21 customers include international healthcare providers, pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies. The Products division of Lab21 manufactures immunodiagnostic kits and reagents that are distributed internationally and is focused on infectious diseases for the blood-banking and clinical markets.  Lab21's clinical services operations has a growing test portfolio providing companion diagnostics and high technology molecular assays. Lab21's corporate offices are based in Cambridge, UK and South Carolina, USA with a GMP manufacturing site in Cambridge and other manufacturing facilities in Newmarket, Camberley and Bridport.  Website:  www.lab21.com

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SOURCE BD-Becton Dickinson