Life Technologies to Distribute Quidel's MDx assays in Europe

(Carlsbad, CA, USA) has signed an agreement with Quidel Corp. (San Diego, CA, USA) to distribute and commercialize molecular diagnostic assays for the European market. The deal represents Life's continued growth into the diagnostics space.

The two companies expect to launch additional molecular assays later this year but did not provide further details. Financial terms of the alliance were not disclosed.

Beginning October 2011, Life Tech will start selling two Quidel molecular diagnostic tests—the Influenza A+B Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and the human metapneumovirus (hMPV) assay. Both of the assay kits are for use with Life Tech's 7500 family of PCR instruments and both tests have received the CE marking.

The kits offer both performance benefits and workflow benefits over currently available tests. The influenza kit is more sensitive and specific than the comparator assay in a trial with more than 600 samples. The workflow has been improved by allowing for refrigerated storage rather than freezer storage, one-step reagent setup, and fast qPCR cycling resulting in answers 75 minutes after sample preparation.

"About ten percent of Life Technologies' current revenues derive from molecular diagnostics," said Kim Caple, head of molecular diagnostics at Life Technologies, "and we expect that percentage to grow significantly in the next several years as we expand our presence in the diagnostics arena."

Life Technologies manufactures both molecular diagnostic and research use only products. The company's customers are active in fields across the biological spectrum, working to advance areas of discovery and translational research, molecular medicine, stem cell-based therapies, food safety and animal health, and 21st century forensics.

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