Becton, Dickinson and Company to Acquire HandyLab Inc.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) has agreed to purchase HandyLab Inc., a manufacturer of molecular diagnostic assays and automation platforms, for an undisclosed amount, according to the Franklin Lakes, N.J., firm.

The acquisition will extend BD’s commitment to HandyLab’s instrumentation technology to support BD’s molecular diagnostics strategy.

“HandyLab has developed and commercialized a flexible automated platform for performing molecular diagnostics which is an ideal complement to our molecular diagnostics offerings,” said Vincent A. Forlenza, BD president. “We believe this new platform enables both our healthcare-associated infections offering and future expansion into other molecular opportunities.” BD develops, manufactures and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory instruments, antibodies, reagents and diagnostic products through its three segments: BD Medical, BD Diagnostics and BD Biosciences.

BD plans to place its BD GeneOhm molecular assays for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus onto the HandyLab platform and market them as the new BD MAX system.

BD senior management will address this announcement during the company’s fiscal fourth quarter earnings call on Nov. 4 at 10 a.m, which can be viewed on a webcast at www.bd.com/investors.