Beckman Coulter announces takeover of Siemens’ clinical microbiology unit

Beckman Coulter has announced it will be purchasing the clinical microbiology business of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, a deal that is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015.

An established leader in microbial identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing, the Siemens clinical microbiology business has an installed base of more than 6,000 instruments globally.

The firm's microbiology product line includes the MicroScan brand, which encompasses a variety of instruments, panels, consumables and data management solutions. MicroScan systems are recognised for their high accuracy and superior detection of emerging resistance.

As such, Beckman Coulter believes the purchase of the business will complement its existing offerings, strengthen its brand and improve the range of products it offers to laboratory customers.

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics president Arnd Kaldowski said: "The acquisition expands our product portfolio with differentiated analytical systems and menus that elevate our clinical capabilities for customers, while driving continued growth."

The firm is one of the world's biggest suppliers of life science equipment, with more than 275,000 Beckman Coulter systems operating in laboratories on seven continents.