Quest Diagnostics receives MDEA gold award for Simplexa/3M technology

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced that its Simplexa™ molecular diagnostic test on the 3M™ Integrated Cycler won a gold award in the in vitro diagnostics category at the 2011 MDEA awards ceremony yesterday in New York City. Focus Diagnostics, the infectious disease diagnostics business of Quest Diagnostics, developed and provides the Simplexa™ line of molecular test products operating on the 3M Integrated Cycler as part of an exclusive global collaboration with 3M (MMM).

"Winning the MDEA award underscores our commitment to developing industry-leading diagnostics that will help physicians more effectively diagnose, treat and manage their patients," said Surya N. Mohapatra, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer, Quest Diagnostics. "We are particularly gratified to share this honor with our close collaborator 3M, a company which shares our enthusiasm for developing breakthrough technologies that help improve patient care."

The MDEA competition recognizes advances in the design of medical products. Presented by UBM Canon, MDEA award winners are selected by an impartial jury on criteria that include design and engineering features that improve healthcare delivery, innovative use of materials and components, and functional innovations that change traditional medical attitudes or practices or offer significant use-related improvements.

In April 2011, the Simplexa/3M technology won a bronze 2011 Edison Award for new science and medical diagnostic product, based on criteria that included technological innovation and marketplace success.

Focus Diagnostics launched the Simplexa molecular product line in 2009. Simplexa was the first test kit to be FDA cleared for aiding in the detection and differentiation of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, in May 2010. Additional FDA cleared Simplexa tests aid the detection of influenza A and B and respiratory syncthial virus. Several other Simplexa branded tests, including for Clostridium difficile, Epstein Barr and BK viruses, are CE marked and distributed in Europe. Simplexa tests run on the 3M Integrated Cycler, a compact, portable testing platform which can provide test results in as few as 60 minutes.

"We designed our Simplexa test to serve the unmet need for fast, high quality testing that hospitals and other healthcare facilities can perform near their patients," said John G. Hurrell, Ph.D., vice president and general manager, Focus Diagnostics. "A fast, reliable test result is essential to effective treatment for many diseases. The MDEA and Edison Awards highlight the importance of the Simplexa and 3M products in helping physicians to make well informed and timely clinical decisions for their patients."