BioMerieux and Sysmex in urinary screening deal

BioMerieux and Sysmex have formed a partnership to advance their provision of urinary screening for customers, it has emerged.

Under the agreement, bioMerieux is to distribute the UF-1000i urinalysis system from Sysmex to microbiology laboratories worldwide.

The fluorescence flow cytometry system promises to simplify urinary analysis by providing a highly standardised and automated laboratory solution, according to the manufacturer.

Stephane Bancel, chief executive officer of bioMerieux, said: "We are delighted with this very promising partnership with Sysmex, which will allow us to bring the gold standard for urinary screening to our customers."

"With this system and the forthcoming plate streaker instrument, bioMerieux has added two important pieces to the microbiology lab automation process," he added.

The agreement forms part of a five-year plan put in place by bioMerieux and running until 2012.

Primary targets for the strategy include an aim to hold a 40 per cent market share in the bacteriology industry by the end of the five-year period.