Hercules, CA — August 2, 2013 — Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. today announced the launch of its iQ-Check Prep automation system. The liquid handling platform advances food pathogen testing by automating sample preparation for detection by real-time PCR.
Molecular methods are becoming the gold standard in food pathogen testing. International regulators now characterize pathogens such as Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC) in molecular terms, as these pathogens cannot be reliably diagnosed by traditional methods such as ELISA. The iQ-Check Prep system was designed to facilitate the wide-scale movement toward the use of molecular approaches for pathogen detection in food laboratories.
Designed to optimize the full range of Bio-Rad’s validated real-time PCR food pathogen detection kits, the iQ-Check Prep system enables walk-away automation of DNA extraction and PCR plate setup. Testing labs can seamlessly incorporate the system into their existing workflows without disruption.
The system offers the full traceability that is critical for food pathogen detection methods.
Key benefits include:
- Greater flexibility — runs up to four different iQ-Check assays simultaneously and performs 500 tests in one 8-hour shift, so lab resources can be reallocated to perform other tasks
- Increased confidence and efficiency — improves traceability with barcodes and LIMS integration, provides real-time monitoring of each pipet step with liquid level sensing, and uses internationally validated protocols
- Design that makes your work easier — equipped with ready-to-use, load-and-go reagents and an intuitive user interface, and designed for limited maintenance: air-displacement pipetting eliminates vacuum pumps and liquid waste
Current AOAC and AFNOR/ISO 16140 approvals have been extended for use with the iQ-Check Prep system.
To learn more about the iQ-Check Prep system, please visit www.bio-rad.com/ad/automation.
About Bio-Rad
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) has been at the center of scientific discovery for 60 years, manufacturing and distributing a broad range of products for life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The company is renowned for its commitment to quality and customer service among university and research institutions, hospitals, public health and commercial laboratories, as well as the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and food safety industries. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and serves more than 100,000 research and industry customers through its global network of operations. The company employs approximately 7,300 people worldwide and had revenues exceeding $2 billion in 2012. Visit us at www.bio-rad.com.
This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding the Company's risks and uncertainties, please refer to the “Risk Factors” in the Company’s public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information contact:
Wendy Lauer
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
510-741-5653
wendy_lauer@bio-rad.com
Ken Li
Chempetitive Group
312-997-2436 x 109
kli@chempetitive.com