COPAN Announces WASP® Distribution Agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. in the United States

MURRIETA, Calif., Feb. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- COPAN Diagnostics, Inc. announced today a distribution agreement for COPAN WASP®: Walk-Away Specimen Processor with Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. in the United States. The COPAN WASP® provides a total solution for pre-analytical microbiology specimen processing with a robust modular system able to automatically plant and streak plates, prepare gram slides, apply susceptibility disks, and inoculate broths.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140228/LA74156)

"We are really excited about this distribution agreement, which will strengthen COPAN's offering in the U.S. hospital market. Thermo Fisher Scientific has unique expertise and a long tradition in core microbiology. We believe there will be a tremendous synergy between COPAN and the Thermo Scientific core microbiology product lines, specifically the Remel™ brand prepared media, rapid assays, consumables and the Thermo Scientific™ VersaTREK™ Blood Culture System. This distribution agreement will enable COPAN to bring added value with a comprehensive package alternative for customers thinking about automating the front end microbiology lab," stated Norman Sharples, COPAN Diagnostics, Inc.'s CEO.

"Thermo Fisher Scientific is focused on delivering workflow solutions to enable our customers to be more effective in making the world healthier and safer," added Rob Spignesi, Vice President and General Manager, Americas for Thermo Fisher Scientific, Microbiology. "Our distribution agreement with COPAN Diagnostics reaffirms our commitment to bring more to microbiology through offering the most comprehensive pre-analytical portfolio of products and technical service. In the current environment, with laboratories facing limited personnel resources and cost constraints, this partnership will provide greater access to the solutions the laboratory needs to meet these challenges successfully.  Thermo Fisher can uniquely contribute to this agreement by providing our complementary portfolio of products, technical and field support, as well as flexible acquisition options for the WASP system."

The WASP® System is now available for sale in the U.S. through Thermo Fisher Scientific.

About COPAN Diagnostics, Inc.
With a reputation for innovation, COPAN is the leading manufacturer of collection and transport systems in the world.  COPAN'S collaborative approach to preanalytics has resulted in Flocked Swabs, ESwab, UTM™, and modular laboratory automation, WASP® and WASPLab.  COPAN carries a range of microbial sampling products, loops, and pipettes. For more information about COPAN Diagnostics, visit http://www.copanusa.com. 

SOURCE COPAN Diagnostics, Inc.