Launch of BD BACTEC™ MGIT™ 320 System Expands TB Detection Worldwide

SPARKS, Md., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), announced today the launch of the BD BACTEC™ MGIT™ 320 Mycobacteria Culture System -- a new, smaller capacity system to quickly and accurately detect tuberculosis (TB).

Designed for laboratories with smaller volumes, the BD BACTEC MGIT 320 System is half the physical size of the industry-leading BD BACTEC MGIT 960 System -- a fully automated system for mycobacterial liquid culture and susceptibility testing. The new, smaller system holds 320 tubes, for an annual capacity of approximately 2,700 specimens per year. It makes optimal use of valuable laboratory space and offers a flexible configuration as either a bench-top or stand-mounted instrument.

With the introduction of the BD BACTEC MGIT 320 System, liquid technology will be more readily available globally in an effort to help reduce TB deaths and decrease transmission rates in high-risk areas. As with the larger model, the new system can dramatically shorten mycobacterial culture recovery time and improve patient management as compared with conventional media or sputa smear approaches.

"The BD BACTEC MGIT 320 System will continue BD's leadership in fighting TB worldwide through proper detection," said Philippe Jacon, President of BD Diagnostics – Diagnostic Systems. "Quick, safe, efficient testing is critical in the diagnosis of TB. The BD BACTEC MGIT 320 System offers the same quality and benefits as the BD BACTEC MGIT 960 -- faster, more accurate detection through liquid culture technology -- but in a smaller-scale format that will appeal to laboratories with the appropriate capacity for their workload."

Offering easy-to-use culture detection, with minimal hands-on time, the BD BACTEC MGIT 320 System employs plastic screw-cap tubes for safe, easy access to the medium and a simple, four-step instrument workflow. As an additional safety measure, the system does not require needles to inoculate or subculture the test tubes, eliminating the risk of needlestick injuries while inoculating tubes or working up positive cultures.

The BD BACTEC MGIT 320 System uses MGIT media and patented sensors, making efficient use of advanced fluorometric technology, which permits highly accurate detection of O2 consumption without sharps that has proven performance in the BD BACTEC MGIT 960 System.

The rapid and accurate diagnosis of symptomatic patients is the cornerstone of global strategies for TB control. BD offers a range of solutions for TB diagnosis from specimen collection to final test result.

About Liquid Culture

Laboratory diagnosis of TB largely relies on the direct microscopic examination of sputum specimens. However, the technique has low and variable sensitivity and cannot identify drug-resistant strains. Mycobacterial culture is more sensitive but growth of TB bacilli on traditional solid media typically requires two to four weeks, and as many as eight weeks, of incubation. This consequently delays appropriate treatment in the absence of a confirmed diagnosis.

Liquid culture systems reduce the delays in obtaining results by one to two weeks over solid media.  For drug susceptibility testing (DST), the interval may be reduced to as little as ten days, compared with 28 to 42 days with conventional solid media. Liquid systems are more sensitive for detection of mycobacteria and may increase the case yield by 10% over solid media.  With increased sensitivity and reduced delays, liquid systems may contribute significantly to improved patient management.

Expanding culture capacity is urgently needed to address challenges due to the epidemics of HIV-associated TB and drug-resistant TB, especially in resource-limited settings. In 2007, the World Health Organization endorsed liquid culture technology as the standard of care for TB diagnosis and patient management.

About BD

BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)