BioMerieux scales up sterility testing media for H1N1 pandemic

BioMerieux, a leader in the field of in vitro diagnostic reagents, instruments and software, is increasing its production to help fight the swine flu pandemic.

Vaccine manufacturers use the French company's culture media for sterility testing during the quality control of their production process to help ensure product safety. Sterility testing is critical for the control and release of vaccines on the market, the company says.

BioMerieux's main culture media production site in Craponne (France) has been mobilised to meet the growing need for sterility testing media. The company increased its safety stock at the first signs of a potential pandemic, enabling it to meet the extra demand from global vaccine manufacturers in recent weeks. It is preparing for an expected rise in orders over the coming months, when the first batches of A/H1N1 vaccine will be released.

"BioMerieux has been in close communication with its pharmaceutical customers globally to support increased production capacity efforts for the influenza vaccine," said Alexandre Merieux, corporate vice president, industrial microbiology at BioMerieux. "We are taking the necessary measures to ready our teams and ensure a secure supply of products at a critical time for public health worldwide."

BioMerieux is adapting its NucliSENS EasyQ Influenza A/B test to help GPs rapidly assess their patients and take the necessary isolation steps should they have swine flu.

The company is also stockpiling specific reagents for its NucliSENS easyMAG molecular diagnostics system, which is being used for extraction of influenza viral nucleic acids, a preliminary step in testing, at several public health laboratories in the world.

In addition, BioMerieux distributes Quidel's QuickVue Influenza A+B and QuickVue Influenza A/B rapid tests. The effectiveness of these tests to detect the H1N1 strain is currently under evaluation.