Biomerieux is increasing its production to support the global effort to fight the influenza A/H1N1 pandemic.
The company's culture media for sterility testing is used by vaccine manufacturers 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.
Biomerieux's main culture-media production site in Craponne, France, is 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 influenza A/H1N1 vaccine will be produced and released.
A global continuity plan is underway to ensure consistent service and a steady supply of priority products for the pandemic.
In addition to its solutions for industrial microbiological control, Biomerieux is contributing to the fight against influenza A/H1N1 in the area of clinical diagnostics.
To help physicians rapidly assess their patients and take the necessary isolation steps, the company is adapting its Nuclisens EasyQ influenza A/B test to include this new strain.
Biomerieux is building stock of 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.
The company also distributes Quidel's Quickvue influenza A and B and Quickvue influenza A/B rapid tests.
However, the effectiveness of these tests to detect the H1N1 strain is currently being evaluated.
