MANNEDORF, Switzerland and
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Tecan Group
(SIX Swiss Exchange: TECN) and Luminex Corporation (Nasdaq: LMNX)
have announced that they will collaborate on the development of a
new automated newborn screening solution that will provide faster
results for infants' potential health concerns. The companies
have entered into a global OEM agreement that allows them to
combine Luminex® xMAP® technology and LX 200™ instrument with
Tecan's flexible and reliable Freedom EVO® liquid handling platform
and HydroFlex™ washer. The new automated newborn screening
solution will help laboratories enhance efficiency, save vital
resources and analyze more samples more quickly. Luminex
expects to launch the automated newborn screening solution in
2011.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/20100104/LUMINEXLOGO)
(Logo:
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Thomas Bachmann, CEO of Tecan,
said: "We are delighted that we have been chosen by Luminex to
supply a fully automated solution for such an important
application. This global OEM agreement is building on a long, well
established partnership of creating the most advanced automated
solutions in the research market for Luminex xMAP technology."
Luminex xMAP technology enables large numbers of biological
tests to be conducted simultaneously and analyzed quickly,
cost-effectively and accurately. Once it receives regulatory
clearance, NeoPlex4™ will be a fully automated, walk-away testing
platform for multiplexed newborn screening. These high-volume
screening assays test newborn infants for several different
biomarkers linked to critical diseases. Each of these
conditions can cause severe mental and physical disability if
untreated. If detected early through testing, effective
treatment can be initiated. Multiplexing these tests together
from one sample offers significant improvements in testing
efficiency.
Patrick Balthrop, CEO of Luminex,
said: "Automation continues to be a top priority for Luminex and
our customers. The high testing volumes in the newborn
screening market require full sample-to-answer automation for the
thousands of specimens processed by each customer per day. We
evaluated several different robotic solutions to achieve this full
automation for our xMAP technology and determined that Tecan was
the best option available for this application. We have had a
very effective relationship with Tecan and we are proud to be
partnered with them in this effort."
About Tecan
Tecan (www.tecan.com) is a leading global provider of laboratory
instruments and solutions in biopharmaceuticals, forensics, and
clinical diagnostics. The company specializes in the development,
production and distribution of instruments and automated workflow
solutions for laboratories in the life sciences sector. Its clients
include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university
research departments, forensic and diagnostic laboratories. As an
original equipment manufacturer, Tecan is also a leader in
developing and manufacturing OEM instruments and components that
are then distributed by partner companies. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has
manufacturing, research and development sites in both Europe and North
America and maintains a sales and service network in 52
countries. In 2009, Tecan generated sales of CHF 392 million
(USD 361.2 million; EUR 259.6 million). Registered shares
of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (TK:
TECN/Reuters: TECZn.S/ ISIN CH0012100191).
About Luminex Corporation
Luminex Corporation develops, manufactures and markets
proprietary biological testing technologies with applications
throughout the diagnostic and life sciences industries. The
Company's xMAP® multiplex solutions include an open-architecture,
multi-analyte technology platform that delivers fast, accurate and
cost-effective bioassay results to markets as diverse as
pharmaceutical drug discovery, clinical diagnostics and biomedical
research, including the genomics and proteomics markets. The
Company's xMAP Technology is sold worldwide and is already in use
in leading clinical laboratories as well as major pharmaceutical,
diagnostic and biotechnology companies. Further information on
Luminex Corporation or xMAP Technology can be obtained at
www.luminexcorp.com.
For further
information:
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Tecan Group
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Martin Braendle
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Head of Corporate Communications
& Investor Relations
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Tel. +41 (0) 44 922 84
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Fax +41 (0) 44 922 88
89
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investor@tecan.com
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www.tecan.com
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Luminex Contacts:
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Luminex Corporate
Contact:
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Harriss T. Currie, Vice
President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
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512.219.8020
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Matthew Scalo
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Sr. Director Investor
Relations
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512.219.8020
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mscalo@luminexcorp.com
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Luminex Media
Contact:
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Aaron DeLucia
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512.241.2249
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aaron.delucia@porternovelli.com
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SOURCE Luminex Corporation; The Tecan Group
Copyright . 12 PR Newswire