Bio-Rad Grants Beckman Coulter Exclusive Distribution Rights for Access HIV and Hepatitis C Assays

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a global provider of life science research and clinical diagnostic products and Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, a global leader in the clinical diagnostics industry, today announced that Bio-Rad is extending its agreement with Beckman Coulter and has named the company exclusive global distributor of Bio-Rad’s Access HIV combo assay and the Access hepatitis C virus (HCV) assay in select geographies. (The products are not available in the U.S. or Vietnam).

The 10-year exclusive distribution rights agreement is part of an extension of the manufacturing and supply agreement between the companies for immunodiagnostic testing for blood virus and infectious disease, which began nearly 20 years ago.

“This partnership with Bio-Rad enables Beckman Coulter Diagnostics to deliver on its commitment to customers by providing a broad immunoassay menu that allows them to optimize laboratory workflow,” said John Blackwood, senior vice president, Chemistry and Immunoassay Business Unit, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics. “With the new HIV combo assay and HCV assay running on the Beckman Coulter UniCel DxI and Access systems, we enable physicians to better diagnose and treat patients with blood viruses and infectious diseases.”

“We are pleased to extend our partnership with Beckman Coulter Diagnostics and believe the expertise of our respective organizations will add significant contributions to both HIV and hepatitis C testing laboratories and ultimately patient care,” said John Hertia, Bio-Rad executive vice president, president, Clinical Diagnostics Group. “The strengthening of our partnership reflects each organization’s commitment in providing high value testing for these diseases.”