QIAGEN Acquires Comprehensive Portfolio of Molecular Food Safety Tests

Addition of 70 assays enables the company to offer a complete workflow in food testing and to strengthen its fastest growing business segment

26-May-2010 - Germany

QIAGEN announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Institute for Product Quality (ifp), pursuant to which QIAGEN has acquired all rights to 70 molecular food safety tests developed by the Berlin-based specialized laboratory center for food analysis. The transaction further strengthens QIAGEN’s “Applied Testing” business segment, which also encompasses molecular testing systems for forensic applications, veterinary medicine and biodefense. No financial details were disclosed.

The tests acquired from ifp are based on the widely used real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technology and cover a broad range of molecular targets including genetic, bacterial, viral and other contaminants of foodstuffs. The tests can be fully automated using QIAGEN’s own instruments. The transaction enables QIAGEN to offer complete solutions for all major applications in the food safety testing segment, covering entire workflows from the processing of primary samples to the final testing result.

“With this unique assay portfolio we are laying the foundation for a very strong position in the area of food safety testing and significantly strengthening the area of applied testing overall”, said Peer Schatz, Chief Executive Officer of QIAGEN. “Applied testing represents an important growth area for our company. Here, we are focusing on select segments with a relevant market volume, a growing demand for molecular testing technologies and a high potential for growth. We believe that the food testing segment matches this profile and we look forward to continuously expanding our position in this market.”

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