News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel

News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel
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The Scientist’s Top 10 Scientific Innovations for 2014 Offer Powerful New Research Tools to Advance Diagnostics and Possibly Find Uses in Clinical Laboratories

Many of these new technologies could help pathologists develop new diagnostic tests and offer medical laboratories opportunities to expand their services

Pathologists and clinical laboratory scientists tracking the hottest new diagnostic technologies may be in interested in the 2014 list of “Top Ten Innovations” recently published by The Scientist.

This is a competition and each year The Scientist has a panel of five experts in life sciences review the entries. Among this year’s Top Ten Innovations are promising diagnostic tools and new technologies with the potential to disrupt the current state of healthcare. In the near future, most of these technologies will be used by researchers to better understand the underlying, genetic cause of diseases and advance new treatments. However, some of these innovative technologies have already been adopted for clinical use. Others are probably several years away from becoming the basis for new medical laboratory tests.

Here is a short overview of The Scientist magazine’s list of “Top Ten Innovations for 2014.” (more…)

Beckman Coulter Acquired by Danaher as In Vitro Diagnostics Industry Consolidates

Clinical pathology laboratory customers of Beckman Coulter shouldn’t see major changes

Yesterday came news that Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) of Washington, D.C., would acquire Beckman Coulter, Inc., (NYSE: BEC) of Brea, California, in a transaction valued at $6.8 billion. Beckman is among the world’s larger manufacturers of in vitro diagnostics (IVD) analyzers and automation for clinical pathology laboratories.

For pathologists and medical laboratory administrators, the significance of the acquisition is that consolidation continues in the IVD testing industry. Beckman Coulter itself grew to substantial size through a series of acquisitions it completed over the past two decades. For 2009, Beckman Coulter reported revenue of $3.3 billion.

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Pathology Companies Leica and Omnyx Beef Up Their Access to Digital Pathology Technology

Leica Microsystem acquires Genetix while Omnyx licenses patents from Olympus

More pathology laboratories are acquiring and deploying digital scanners and digital pathology systems. In response to the growing demand for digital pathology solutions, several prominent companies are extending their capabilities in virtual microscope slide technology. Over recent months, an acquisition and a licensing deal provide examples of the intense activity in the digital pathology marketplace.

The acquisition was done by Leica Microsystem, Inc., of Wetzlar, Germany. On March 10th, it announced its acquisition of Genetix, Ltd., based in New Milton, UK. The licensing deal involved Omnyx, LLC, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in an agreement that gives it access to certain patents held by Olympus Corporation. Both of these transactions occurred in March. Each was motivated by initiating the company’s need to further develop its technologies in support of whole slide imaging (WSI) and digital pathology systems.

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