Shimadzu, bioMerieux Enter Mass Spec Pact

Shimadzu and bioMerieux have entered into a partnership to commercialize a mass spectrometry system for bacterial identification in microbiology labs. BioMerieux will work with Shimadzu and its subsidiary, Kratos Analytical, to adapt their MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry technology for optimized integration into the microbiology lab workflow. BioMerieux expects to launch the new solution in 2010, together with the microbial database acquired from AnagnosTec.

The collaboration brings together Shimadzu’s range of technologies, encompassing analytical and measuring instruments, including liquid chromatographs, mass spectrometers, spectrophotometers and life science instruments, and bioMerieux’s expertise in infectious diseases and extensive library of microorganisms.

“We are very proud to announce our collaboration with bioMerieux, and we expect to make a significant contribution to the field of bacterial identification as a result,” said Osamu Ando, general manager for Analytical & Measuring Instruments Division at Shimadzu Corp. “Over the past few years, MALDI-TOF MS has become a key part of our product range, and is driving the expansion of our life science business. This collaboration with bioMerieux represents a new phase in the evolution of our business by expanding it from the research market into diagnostic testing.”