UNION CITY, Calif.,
Dec. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Abaxis,
Inc. (NasdaqGS: ABAX), a medical products company manufacturing
point of care instrumentation and consumables to the medical,
research and veterinary markets, announced today its Abaxis
Veterinary Reference Laboratories (AVRL) Division, based in
Olathe, Kansas, is now offering a
quantitative antibody test for canine Lyme disease. The new canine
Lyme test invented and developed by Abaxis, Inc., measures a
combination of antibodies to peptides which mimic certain antigens
of the Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete. These antibodies are
not found in vaccinated or non-infected patients.
Dr. Kenneth Aron, Chief
Technology Officer at Abaxis, commented, "We have utilized advances
in peptide chemistry and immunology to design a robust
laboratory-based test that can distinguish an active Lyme infection
from immunity based on vaccination. These advances allow a
definitive diagnosis which is required for reference laboratory
performed confirmation test."
The new quantitative Lyme test can be used as a standalone
diagnostic test to determine infection status or efficacy of
treatment. It can also be used as a quantitative confirmation test
for the soon to be released VetScan Lyme Rapid Test which is
currently under development.
Mark Patterson, President of AVRL
added, "The Lyme quantitative antibody test is an exciting addition
to the more than 500 tests that are already offered at our new,
state of the art facility. It is also a great example of how the
Abaxis point-of-care products are complemented by the full service
laboratory that we have developed. The Lyme quantitative antibody
test is the first of what we expect to be many new and unique
assays for the veterinary community."
About Abaxis
Abaxis develops, manufactures, markets and sells portable blood
analysis systems for use in any veterinary or human patient-care
setting to provide clinicians with rapid blood constituent
measurements. The system consists of a compact, 5.1 kilogram
(11.2 pounds), portable analyzer and a series of single-use plastic
discs, called reagent discs that contain all the chemicals required
to perform a panel of up to 13 tests on veterinary patients and 14
tests on human patients. The system can be operated with
minimal training and performs multiple routine tests on whole
blood, serum or plasma samples. The system provides test
results in less than 12 minutes with the precision and accuracy
equivalent to a clinical laboratory analyzer. The veterinary
business also provides to the animal health and research market a
line of hematology instruments for point-of-care complete blood
counts (CBC), a specialty instrument to screen for and detect
clotting disorders and to measure equine fibrinogen levels, a
handheld instrument for the rapid assessment of certain critical
care tests and rapid point-of-care tests for Heartworm infections
in dogs, Parvovirus and Giardia. Abaxis, through its AVRL
Division, provides routine laboratory testing as well as specialty
testing for veterinarians nationwide. This state-of-the-art
commercial laboratory will be the hub of the Abaxis Veterinary
Reference Laboratories (AVRL).
This press release includes, statements that constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"),
including but not limited to statements related to Abaxis' cash
position, financial resources and potential for future growth,
market acceptance and penetration of new or planned product
offerings, and future recurring revenues and results of operations.
Abaxis claims the protection of the safe-harbor for
forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. These
forward-looking statements are often characterized by the terms
"may," "believes," "projects," "expects," "anticipates," or words
of similar import, and do not reflect historical facts.
Specific forward-looking statements contained in this press
release or in Abaxis' conference call may be affected by risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to
losses or system failures with respect to Abaxis' facilities or
manufacturing operations, fluctuations in quarterly operating
results, dependence on sole suppliers, the market acceptance of
Abaxis' products, the continuing development of its products and
the Abaxis Veterinary Reference Laboratories, required United
States Food and Drug Administration clearance and other government
approvals, risks associated with manufacturing and distributing its
products on a commercial scale free of defects, risks related to
the introduction of new instruments manufactured by third parties,
risks associated with competing in the human diagnostic market,
risks related to the protection of Abaxis' intellectual property or
claims of infringement of intellectual property asserted by third
parties, risks related to condition of the United States economy and other risks
detailed under "Risk Factors" in Abaxis' Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2011 and
Abaxis' other periodic reports filed from time to time with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the
statements were made. Abaxis does not undertake and
specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements.
Contact:
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Clint Severson
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Lytham Partners, LLC
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Chief Executive
Officer
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Joe Dorame, Joe Diaz &
Robert Blum
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ABAXIS, Inc.
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602-889-9700
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510-675-6500
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SOURCE Abaxis, Inc.