| bioMérieux Intends to Partner with the AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Bacterial Contamination
December 17, 2004 – bioMérieux INDUSTRY announces that it intends to partner with the AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Bacterial Contamination to investigate the use of the BacT/ALERT ® Microbial Detection System for extension of the storage period of leukocyte reduced apheresis platelet (LRAP) units from five (5) days to seven (7) days.
The AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Bacterial Contamination was designed to serve as a focal point for all issues related to the AABB bacterial detection standard that took effect in March 2004. It also provides a forum for discussions between transfusion medicine community, subject matter experts, and the United States Public Health Service (FDA, CDC, HHS, and NHLBI) ¹.
Since March 2004, BacT/ALERT has been used for in process quality control testing of leukocyte reduced apheresis (LRAP) units and leukocyte – reduced single units of whole blood platelet concentrates (WBPC). Potential extension of the storage period from five (5) days to seven (7) would provide an increase in the number of apheresis platelets available to patients that require them. A decrease in the outdate of apheresis platelets would translate into savings that could exceed ten million dollars annually for the Blood Bank Community.
Built on bioMérieux's patented colorimetric technology, the BacT/ALERT 3D demonstrates excellent recovery of a wide range of organisms typically found in leukocyte reduced platelets. BacT/ALERT Culture Media offer the ability to detect anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms. The BacT/ALERT's patented continuous monitoring of the sample alerts the user immediately to positive samples. BacT/ALERT 3D's patented colorimetric sensor-and-detection technology detects microorganism growth by tracking CO 2 production. Notification of positives is immediate, automatic and results are dependable.
About bioMérieux INDUSTRY
bioMérieux INDUSTRY provides product solutions to quality control and research microbiology laboratories. Applications served include environmental monitoring, sterility testing, pathogen screening, quality indicators, microbial identification, in-process quality control testing, microbial limits and preservative effectiveness testing.
About bioMérieux
A global leader in disease prevention and management, bioMérieux provides assays, reagents and instrumentation for clinical microbiology, coagulation, immunoassay, and nucleic acid diagnostics; and also for product quality control in the blood bank, agri-food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Based in Marcy-l'Etoile, France, the company's U.S. headquarters is in Durham, North Carolina.
With sales of 1 billion Euros in 2003, bioMérieux ranks as the eighth-largest biological diagnostics company worldwide. Over 81% of its activity takes place on an international level. Investment in research and development represents 13% of sales.
bioMérieux employs 5400 people throughout the world, including 3200 in Europe and 1500 in the U.S. The group has 15 production sites located in France, the United States, Brazil, Italy and the Netherlands, as well as a European logistics center in France. Already present in over 130 countries, with more than 110 distributors and 32 subsidiaries, bioMérieux continues its international development by strengthening its presence in Latin America and Asia.
References
1 http://www.hhs.gov/bloodsafety/presentations/SteveKleinman1.pdf
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