Microbial Detection System from bioMérieux INDUSTRY
Provides Solution for Bacterial Testing

St.Louis, MO March 11, 2003 – It is now established that reliable methods for detecting bacteria in platelets stored in plasma will be an AABB requirement within 1 year, according to A. C. Marchionne, marketing manager, bioMérieux INDUSTRY. The new requirement has been made necessary, Marchionne says, because bacterial contamination now causes more morbidity and mortality from infection transmitted during transfusion than any other factor. Fortunately, an accurate, reliable and easy-to-use solution for quality control testing of leuko-reduced apheresis platelets has been cleared for use in blood banks by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The BacT/ALERT^® microbial detection system from bioMérieux INDUSTRY, has been in use around the world for more than a decade. The BacT/ALERT 3D, the latest generation of the BacT/ALERT, is a state-of-the-art automated system featuring a space-saving modular design, touch-screen operation and flexible data management options. The system is one more example of bioMérieux INDUSTRY’s commitment to being prepared for changing regulations and providing solutions to the needs of the industry.

The BacT/ALERT 3D’s technology sets it apart from other systems, which provide only a “snapshot” to detect bacterial growth. The system tracks generation of CO₂, a product of bacterial metabolism, over time, giving a far more reliable picture to help determine the presence or absence of contamination. As a product for quality control testing of leukocyte reduced apheresis platelets, the BacT/ALERT 3D is unparalleled in the industry.

As part of its effort to meet the needs of blood banks throughout the United States , bioMérieux INDUSTRY has restructured its sales, marketing and technical service organizations. The company remains completely dedicated to customer solutions, testing reliability and customer support.

For more information about the BacT/ALERT 3D, call AC Marchionne with bioMérieux INDUSTRY at phone # 314-731-8804

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, quality control organisms, 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 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 950 million Euros in 2002, 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 US. The group has 15 production sites distributed 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.

Return to bioMérieux News