Menu of Partner Assays for the BD MAX™ System Continues to Expand in Europe

-- New, Fully Automated Diagenode Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis Assay Validated for Use on the BD MAX™ System

BALTIMORE and LIEGE, Belgium, June 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BD Diagnostics, a segment of global medical technology company BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), and Diagenode SA, an international biotech company based in Belgium, announced today the European-only launch of the Diagenode Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit for use on the BD MAX™ System. The Diagenode Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis real-time PCR kit has been CE-marked and validated to run on the BD MAX™ System using the BD MAX™ ExK™ DNA-1 Extraction Kit, an open system reagent. The BD MAX™ System is a fully automated system that standardizes the extraction process and offers ease-of-use and improved laboratory workflow for customers.

Bordetella pertussis is responsible for 30-50 million cases yearly of the highly contagious respiratory disease commonly referred to as pertussis or "whooping cough."[i] Timely detection through PCR is essential in preventing the spread of disease and reducing the risk of widespread outbreaks. PCR testing is ideal in enabling the prompt differential diagnosis of pertussis from other respiratory diseases such as atypical pneumonia, bronchitis or respiratory viruses.

"There is a need to rapidly address the outbreak issues associated with whooping cough in both pediatric and adult cases," said Gregory Meehan, Vice President, Product Planning, BD Diagnostics – Diagnostic Systems. "The Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis real-time PCR kit expands the syndrome-specific menu offering through our partner assays with a test that is timely and highly relevant in meeting the market need."

The disease most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal especially in infants less than one year of age; adults may also be affected. Older children and adults with waning natural or vaccine-induced immunity, in contrast, present with a more diverse spectrum of symptoms that necessitate testing to establish a definitive diagnosis.

Bordetella parapertussis infection is similar to, but milder and of shorter duration than, infection associated with B. pertussis.[ii] Approximately 40 percent of persons with B. parapertussis infection are asymptomatic.[iii] Persons in all age groups can be infected by B. parapertussis and experience illness; however, parapertussis occurs most frequently among children under 10 years of age.[iv]

Through collaborations with leading in vitro diagnostic (IVD) developers such as Diagenode, BD is rapidly expanding the molecular testing menu by offering syndrome specific and clinically relevant IVD assays across a number of disease syndromes. "The Diagenode Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis real-time PCR kit adds a significant assay to the BD MAX™ System that truly builds on the flexibility and versatility of the platform, which when coupled with the open system reagents, facilitates the rapid development of molecular testing assays," stated Didier Allaer, CEO of Diagenode.

The expanding BD MAX™ System menu and open capability, full automation and standardized workflow, will enable laboratories to consolidate and standardize a broad range of molecular tests to build programs that meet both their current and future clinical needs.

About BD
BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs nearly 30,000 associates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

About Diagenode
Diagenode (http://www.diagenodediagnostics.com) is a leading developer and marketer of innovative life-science tools and systems for epigenetics and molecular diagnostics. Diagenode is developing novel products for the infectious disease diagnostic market, but is also providing a complete solution for epigenetics research. Diagenode's customers include leading epigenetics researchers, academic institutions, molecular diagnostics, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Diagenode's products provide customers with the best quality and performance and allow scientists to produce consistent, cost-effective and robust results.

---