BioMerieux Launches An Avian Flu Test For Research Purposes

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 08 Feb 2006 - 4:00 PDT

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As a major player in the field of in vitro diagnostics, bioMerieux confirms its commitment to the fight against emerging diseases and launches its avian flu detection test.

In line with its historical commitment to the fight against infectious diseases and with extensive experience in the field of emerging respiratory pathogens, bioMerieux launches its avian Influenza H5N1 detection test.

Developed to respond to the needs of reference laboratories involved in the identification of the disease and in the fight against avian flu, the test, called NucliSens EasyQ(R) Influenza H5 and N1 is a kit of reagents exclusively for research purposes. It can detect the presence of both the H5 and N1 genetic targets in 90 minutes and will be used with the bioMerieux NucliSens(R) range of molecular biology systems. In the field of molecular biology, bioMerieux offers a full range of products from extraction to amplification and identification of genetic targets.

"This test is a real breakthrough in the fight against avian flu. It is a solution that will contribute to the efficient management of a possible pandemic, using our high throughput platform," says Dr. Christophe Merieux, senior corporate vice president of Research & Development, Medical Affairs at bioMerieux.

About Avian Influenza

Avian influenza (bird flu) is an infectious disease, which affects birds. However, confirmed cases of human infection have been reported by the World Health Organization. In these cases, the avian flu virus has been transmitted to people via the respiratory secretions, excretions or feathers of infected birds, or contaminated materials. Only persons in prolonged, frequent and close contact with contaminated animals are exposed to the risk of infection by the H5N1 avian flu virus. To date, transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person (no human-to-human contamination). The risk of a potential human avian flu epidemic is related to the rising circulation of the H5N1 virus, which increases the probability of the emergence of a new flu virus which can spread from one person to another.

About bioMerieux

bioMerieux is a leading international diagnostics group that specializes in the field of in vitro diagnostics for clinical and industrial applications. bioMerieux designs, develops, manufactures and markets systems (i.e. reagents, instruments and software) used in:

Clinical applications: the diagnosis of infectious diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis and respiratory illnesses, as well as pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, based on the analysis of biological samples (such as blood, saliva or urine); and

Industrial applications: the microbiological analysis of food, environments (such as water and air), surfaces and pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, based on the analysis of product or environmental samples.

In 2005, bioMerieux sales reached 994 million euros. The company is present in more than 130 countries through 35 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors, which positions the company well to benefit from the growth potential of the in vitro diagnostics market. Some important drivers that underpin this growth are aging populations and age-related illness, illnesses related to life-style and eating habits, emerging new pathogens, the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the fight against bio-terrorism, the recognition of the importance of the quality of food products. bioMerieux is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext, Paris (FR0010096479 - BIM).

Other information can be found at http://www.biomerieux.com .

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