bioMérieux Launches VITEK® 2 Compact for Small to Mid-Sized Labs
bioMérieux, Inc., today announced the official launch of the VITEK 2 Compact, an automated bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing system (ID/AST). Designed for small to mid-sized microbiology laboratories, the VITEK 2 Compact recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and was introduced today at the 2005 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) General Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
“The most important task facing the microbiology laboratory is reporting rapid, accurate and clinically relevant results,” said Herb Steward, senior vice president, North American Commercial Operations at bioMérieux, Inc. “Accurate microbial detection is the first step in achieving this goal, and the VITEK 2 Compact can now provide the same rapid results to small and mid-sized labs using the same market-leading technology of our VITEK 2.”
The increase in bacterial resistance is challenging the most effective antibiotics, and identifying a resistance as early as possible allows for implementation of proactive measures and therapeutic adjustments. This helps to prevent treatment failures and reduces emerging resistance.
Using multi-spectrum colorimetric and transmittance optic systems, the VITEK 2 Compact detects changes in organism growth under various media and antibiotic concentrations. The system’s analysis algorithm then interprets these readings to provide rapid, accurate translation into microorganism identification and susceptibility results.
The VITEK 2 Compact features an Advanced Expert™ System (AES) that provides accurate “fingerprint” recognition of bacterial resistance mechanisms and phenotypes. The AES interprets the antibiotic resistance patterns, validates the results and reports the resistance phenotype useful to patient treatment and infection control.
The VITEK 2 Compact is built on the proven technology of the company’s VITEK 2 to provide same-day results, but with a smaller footprint. This provides small and mid-sized laboratories with the advantages of VITEK 2.
In response to growing concerns regarding resistant organisms, bioMérieux plans to develop, market and distribute an antifungal susceptibility test card for fungal identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The introduction of the card, currently in development, will mark the industry’s first automated antifungal test card for clinical use. The new test card is scheduled for availability in 2006. The antifungal susceptibility card will work with the VITEK 2 and VITEK 2 Compact instruments to help combat resistant fungal infections by aiding in the identification of appropriate antibiotic treatment.
About bioMérieux, Inc.
bioMérieux, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of bioMérieux S.A., a company headquartered in France. With sales of 930.6 million euros in 2004, bioMérieux is a leading international diagnostics group that specializes in the field of in vitro diagnostics for clinical and industrial applications. bioMérieux 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 certain cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers, 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 product or environmental samples.
In 2004, bioMérieux sales reached 931 million euros (i.e., approximately 1.2 billion dollars). The company is present in more than 130 countries through 33 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. For more information, visit the web site at www.biomerieux-usa.com .
