17.11.09
Lab21 launches new high sensitivity immunodiagnostic system for CMV antibody detection

Cambridge, UK – 17th November 2009 - Lab21, the healthcare diagnostics company, is pleased to announce it has further expanded its range of diagnostic and blood-banking products with the launch of a new CE-marked enzyme immunoassay for the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies in human serum or plasma.
Lab21 scientists have been able to develop a new immunodiagnostic assay for total CMV antibody detection which is significantly more sensitive than other CMV assays that are currently commercially available. This higher sensitivity means that the Lab21 system can detect a potential CMV infection significantly earlier than previously and so give additional assurance that a blood sample is un-infected, therefore minimizing the risk of blood-borne transmission. Lab21 already provides multiple immunodiagnostic products to national and international blood screening services, particularly in the areas of malaria and syphilis.
Hayden Jeffreys, Head of Sales and Marketing for Lab21’s Diagnostic Products Division, said: “This further demonstrates our commitment to immunodiagnostic product development within the blood-screening market. In the next few months we expect to launch a series of related products that will attempt to fill the gaps in the blood screening and diagnostic markets identified by our customers and our own analysis.”
Graham Mullis, CEO at Lab21, added: “This is the first assay that Lab21 has developed within the viral area and is an indication of our growing pipeline of immunodiagnostic and molecular diagnostic tests. We expect this pipeline to continue to provide a regular supply of new in vitro diagnostic (IVD) products which will rapidly establish Lab21 as a significant presence in the global IVD market.”
CMV is commonly found in the population, generally causing mild illnesses with complete recovery. However, it does have the capability of establishing latent infections lasting many years and can cause significant health problems in immunosuppressed people such at those with HIV infection or in transplant settings. Because blood from infected people can transmit the virus via transfusion it is important to exclude blood donations which contain CMV antibodies since these may indicate a high risk of transmitting the infection.

For further information:
Lab21
Graham Mullis, CEO
Maddy Kennedy, CFO
Dr Berwyn Clarke, CSDO
t: +44 (0)1223 395461
e: graham.mullis@lab-21.com
maddy.kennedy@lab21.com
berwyn.clarke@lab21.com

For media and investor enquiries:
Buchanan Communications
Mark Court / Katharine Sutton
t: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
e: markc@buchanan.uk.com

About Lab21
Lab21 is a global provider of state-of-the-art diagnostic products and services, supporting blood bank screening, medical diagnostics and drug discovery. Its customers include international healthcare providers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
The product division of the Company manufactures immunodiagnostic kits and reagents that are distributed into 110 international countries and is focused on infectious diseases for the blood-banking market.
The service division has a growing test portfolio providing companion diagnostics and high technology molecular assays for the growing integration of personalized medicine into healthcare. These services are currently in infectious diseases, oncology and pharmacogenetics areas with emerging interests in cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
Lab21’s clinical reference laboratory and corporate office is based in Cambridge and has additional UK manufacturing sites in Newmarket, Bridport and Ipswich. It also has R&D operations in Cape Town, South Africa. The Company’s investors include Merlin Biosciences, Nexus Medical Partners, Medicis Capital, Rowan Dartington and Kreos Capital.
Website: www.lab21.com