bioMérieux Achieves 100th PREVI® ISOLA Milestone, Installing its Automated Plate Streaker at Grady Health System

bioMérieux, a world leader in in vitro diagnostics announces today the installation of its 100th PREVI™ Isola, an automated plate streaker, based on a breakthrough technology and designed to revolutionize front-end media processing tasks for microbiology labs. The system was installed at the Grady Health System in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the largest public health systems in the U.S.

As the world leader in microbiology diagnostics, bioMérieux developed PREVI Isola to address the need to build more efficiency into the daily operations of microbiology labs. Laboratory managers today must handle an increasingly complex workflow with a smaller workforce and, in many cases, fewer skilled technicians. They are also faced with greater demand for quality assurance and traceability of samples and results.

“The PREVI Isola has allowed us to better utilize our laboratory resources by freeing some of our staff that were previously dedicated to the time consuming task of setting up and plating samples for microbiology cultures,” said Tim Drake, Microbiology Laboratory Manager, Grady Health System. “We quickly implemented the PREVI Isola into our routine production process because of quality gains from improved organism isolation,” said Drake.

“PREVI Isola has brought two major breakthroughs to improve efficiency in the microbiology lab: a superior quality of plate inoculation with unmatched throughput,” said Stéphane Bancel, bioMérieux Chief Executive Officer. “The 100th instrument marks a milestone in bioMérieux's commitment to reduce time to results so that clinicians can determine the best care for their patients more rapidly.”

PREVI Isola is based on an invention by Australian microbiologist John Glasson and engineer Lachlan Smith. bioMérieux worked with LBT Innovations Ltd, the technology’s developer, and Invetech, for automation engineering, to adapt the design to meet microbiologists’ needs. Launched by bioMérieux in November 2008, the system is now installed in laboratories in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. PREVI Isola integrates seamlessly into the laboratory workflow, improving laboratory efficiency by automating routine agar plate inoculation. Its patented applicator maximizes microorganism colony isolation and eliminates cross-contamination risks, standardizing plate inoculation and improving the traceability of results. The system is able to process 180 plates per hour, thus saving technicians’ time.

In 2010, PREVI Isola received the Gold Medical Design Excellence Award, which recognizes products for their design and engineering features, including user-related functions that improve healthcare delivery and change traditional medical attitudes or practices.

PREVI Isola is a critical component in bioMérieux’s complete range of Full Microbiology Lab Automation (FMLA™) solutions and services. The company focuses on building a close partnership with microbiologists to address the unique needs of their laboratory. Committed to improving patient care, bioMérieux introduced FMLA in 2008 to streamline the workflow of the microbiology laboratory, from sample reception and distribution, organism identification and antimicrobial resistance analysis, to result management and interpretation. For more information, visit : www.biomerieux-diagnostics.com/fmla.

About the Grady Health System

Grady Health System is one of the largest public health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, eight neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center - and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

With its nationally acclaimed Emergency Care Center and Burn Unit, Grady Health System has the only level I trauma center in the region and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. The state's only Poison Center is housed at Grady, as well.

The Diabetes Detection & Control Center, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Primary Stroke Center and Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Center are also notable components of the health system. Moreover, Grady's Infectious Disease Program was named one of the top three HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country.

Other exceptional medical services include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center and its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Primary Care Center, a dedicated 60 Plus service line for older adults, Teen Services, and the Rape Crisis Center.

About bioMérieux

Advancing Diagnostics to Improve Public Health

A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for over 45 years, bioMérieux is present in more than 150 countries through 39 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors. In 2010, revenues reached €1.357 billion with 87% of sales outside of France.

bioMérieux provides diagnostic solutions (reagents, instruments, software) which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products are used for diagnosing infectious diseases and providing high medical value results for cancer screening and monitoring and cardiovascular emergencies. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

bioMérieux is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris market (Symbol: BIM – ISIN: FR0010096479). Other information can be found at www.biomerieux.com.

bioMérieux Media Contacts

Koren Wolman-Tardy
Tel: +33 4 78 87 20 08
media@biomerieux.com

Kathyrn Cook
Tel + 1 910-509-3976
Kathryn@purecommunications.com