bioMérieux invests in the future of emergency diagnostics

bioMérieux invests in the future of emergency diagnostics

Marcy l’Etoile, France - April 15, 2005. A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, with over 40 years experience in infectious diseases, bioMérieux SA recently confirmed its commitment to the field of emergency diagnostics through its presence at the 25th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine in Brussels on March 21–25, 2005.

Following the signing on March 1st 2005 of an agreement with the German diagnostics company BRAHMS for the development of a quantitative procalcitonin test, bioMérieux will continue to invest in emergency diagnostics through the development of innovative technologies, with a special focus in the field of molecular diagnostics.

In vitro diagnostic tests are based on the analysis of a biological sample taken from the patient (urine, blood, sputum, etc.). Taken together with the patient’s medical history and clinical examination, these biological test results provide essential information, helping physicians to make relevant decisions (hospitalization, discharge, isolation, choice of treatment, therapeutic monitoring, ...).

bioMérieux diagnostic products provide timely, actionable results in the fields of cardiovascular diseases, thrombosis, sepsis and hospital-acquired infections. In the Emergency Department context, biological diagnostic test results help physicians decide which patients need emergency care (triage). In Intensive Care Units, diagnostic monitoring of critically-ill patients contributes to ensuring therapeutic efficacy and early identification of evolving patient conditions.

The current bioMérieux product range for emergency diagnostics includes short turnaround time tests for D-dimers (thrombosis) and cardiac biomarkers, and a three-hour molecular diagnostic test for Enterovirus (meningitis). The company also offers fully automated blood culture and identification (ID)/antibiotic susceptibility (AST) systems for detection of infectious microorganisms in as little as 24 hours. Furthermore, bioMérieux ID/AST technology integrates expert software which accurately reports resistance mechanisms, helping to guide therapeutic choice and reduce antibiotic consumption.