bioMérieux Gains International Approval for VITEK® 2 Compact Gram Negative Card

bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, today announced that the VITEK® 2 Compact now has AOAC® Official Methods of AnalysisSM (OMA) approval for the Gram Negative (GN) card, continuing a legacy of OMA approval for the VITEK automated identification methods.

The VITEK 2 GN was awarded Official Methods # 2011.17; a notice of the adopted method will be published in a future edition of the AOAC magazine, Inside Laboratory Management.

“The international approvalSM for the VITEK 2 Compact Gram Negative Card further illustrates bioMérieux’s commitment to providing high quality testing solutions to our customers,” said Pierre-Louis Thiney, Executive Director, bioMérieux Industry Sales & Marketing. “It’s another achievement for the VITEK 2 Compact system.”

The VITEK 2 Compact was launched with the introduction of Advanced Colorimetric™ Technology, capabilities such as barcoding for quality and full traceability from sample to result and an enhanced database. The VITEK 2 Compact system answers QC laboratory testing needs for fast and accurate microbial identification. The technology includes an expanded identification database, the most automated platform available, rapid results, improved confidence and minimal training time.

The full range of test cards include the following:

• GN card for Gram-negative bacilli
• GP for Gram-positive cocci
• BCL for Gram-positive spore forming bacilli
• YST for yeast-like organisms
• ANC for anaerobic bacteria
• CBC for corynebacterium spp

OMA approval for the VITEK 2 Compact GP card is pending.

About bioMérieux Food Safety

bioMérieux has been a global leader in providing innovative solutions to address food safety testing issues for more than 20 years. bioMérieux’s food safety focus encompasses prevention, detection, and quality assurance. The company offers extensive global resources and local expertise in microbiology and food safety, driven by cutting-edge research and science to bring powerful new tools to the food industry. bioMérieux’s food testing solutions, including prepared culture media, VIDAS®, TEMPO®, BacT/ALERT®, VITEK® 2 and DiversiLab®, reflect its commitment to improving public health through a safe and nutritious food supply accessible globally. To learn more about food safety and quality solutions from bioMérieux, visit www.biomerieux-usa.com or call 1-800-634-7656.

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-usa.com.

Contacts

Media Relations

bioMerieux
Paige Siwy
Tel: +1 919-479-3638
Paige.siwy@biomerieux.com

McCormick Company
Julie Balmer
Tel: +1 816-584-8444
jbalmer@mccormickcompany.com