Beckman Coulter, Inc. and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics formed a strategic relationship for sales of Ortho’s VITROS 3600 immunodiagnostic system in the United States. The self-monitoring system, which combines three proprietary technologies into one, offers a menu of infectious disease tests that are used by several of U.S. reference laboratories.
Under the relationship, Beckman Coulter will place the VITROS 3600 system running HIV and hepatitis assays in labs that currently run the company’s Power Processor sample handling systems and in certain other very high-volume laboratories. The arrangement with Ortho, an in-vitro diagnostics company, is intended to help laboratories improve operational efficiency and enhance patient care.
Beckman Coulter, a developer and manufacturer of clinical diagnostic products, offers track-based automation systems. The two companies also plan to collaborate to obtain clearance and approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to connect the VITROS 3600 System to the Power Processor to run infectious disease tests.