BD MAX Open System for molecular testing launched in Europe

BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), today announced the European launch of the BD MAX™ Open System for molecular testing, which will enable laboratories to run both laboratory and BD- developed assays and offer enhanced testing services that elevate the standards of care at their institutions.

BD made the launch announcement on the opening day of the 21st European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the 27th International Congress of Chemotherapy (ECCMID/ICC) in Milan, Italy.  

"In a world with ever-evolving pathogens, laboratories need to provide clinicians with fast, accurate and actionable diagnostic information that will save patient lives," said Tom Polen, President of BD Diagnostics - Diagnostic Systems.  "The new completely open, state-of-the-art BD MAX System empowers laboratories to automate their unique internally developed molecular assays, while accessing a rich and growing menu of world-class assays from BD and our leading assay development partners."

BD MAX is the first and only fully automated, open, bench-top molecular testing workstation able to perform both IVD/CE and laboratory-developed tests. The BD MAX System gives clinical laboratory professionals new ability to help their institutions respond to emerging threats, such as new strains of deadly drug-resistant bacteria or respiratory illnesses.

"BD's strategy is to make BD MAX the laboratory equivalent of a smartphone," said Polen.  "We are working with leading assay development companies from around the world to develop a constantly growing, content-rich menu of tests that deliver critical information to caregivers faster and more accurately than current methods. Our plan is to make the BD MAX System an indispensible tool that no laboratory professional will want to live without."

According to Polen, BD intends a steady stream of announcements regarding agreements with best-in-class IVD assay developers to bring new assays to the BD MAX System for a broad range of disease categories.

The BD MAX System's content-rich menu, open capability, full automation and standardized workflow will enable laboratories to consolidate and standardize a broad range of molecular tests to build programs that meet both their current and future clinical needs.  The system will give European laboratories the ability to run their current laboratory developed assays as well as the ability to develop new ones.