We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Qiagen to Increase Safety of Blood Donations in Brazil

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 09 Jun 2009
Qiagen (Frankfurt, Germany) has entered into an agreement to supply molecular sample and assay technologies for a new national, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based blood screening program for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) in Brazil. More...


The company will provide Bio-Manguinhos (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), the main provider of vaccines and diagnostics to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, with molecular testing solutions, sample and assay technologies, instrumentation, operational know-how, and training. The agreement will run for five years and contains options for subsequent extensions.

Qiagen's extraction and testing components will be included in the screening kits and sold in a format featuring Bio-Manguinhos's name and branding. The kits will run on a high-throughput multiplex PCR platform, which allows processing of large numbers of samples and detecting multiple pathogens in a single run. The highly automated platform, which includes an advanced control system based on biosafe viruses developed by Bio-Manguinhos, been validated in the field.

Brazil's new national screening program is scheduled to start in 2010. Every year, five million blood donations are performed in Brazil (population--190 million), of which 70% are conducted by public blood banks. Approximately 0.1% and 0.3% of these donations are tested positive for HIV and HCV, respectively, using older, less sensitive serological methods. It is believed that the real percent of positives could be significantly higher.

Peer M. Schatz, CEO of Qiagen said, "We are proud to team up with the Brazilian authorities in a combined effort to significantly reduce the number of blood-borne transmissions of HIV and HCV and the resulting disease burden."

Bio-Manguinhos is one of the official laboratories of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The unit supports disease prevention policies, epidemiologic programs, sanitation, and surveillance in the immunobiologic area.

Qiagen is a global provider of sample and assay technologies. Sample technologies are used to isolate and process DNA, RNA, and proteins from biologic samples such as blood or tissue. Assay technologies are used to make such isolated biomolecules visible.

Related Links:

Qiagen
Bio-Manguinhos
Ministry of Health, Brazil



Gold Member
Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile pHOx
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
CBM Analyzer
Complete Blood Morphology (CBM) Analyzer
Gold Member
Immunochromatographic Assay
CRYPTO Cassette
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Immunology

view channel
Image: Whole-genome sequencing enables broader detection of DNA repair defects to guide PARP inhibitor cancer therapy (Photo courtesy of Illumina)

Whole-Genome Sequencing Approach Identifies Cancer Patients Benefitting From PARP-Inhibitor Treatment

Targeted cancer therapies such as PARP inhibitors can be highly effective, but only for patients whose tumors carry specific DNA repair defects. Identifying these patients accurately remains challenging,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: AI models combined with DOCI can classify thyroid cancer subtypes (Photo courtesy of T. Vasse et al., doi 10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.015001)

AI-Powered Label-Free Optical Imaging Accurately Identifies Thyroid Cancer During Surgery

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, and its rising detection rates have increased the number of patients undergoing surgery. During tumor removal, surgeons often face uncertainty in distinguishing... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2026 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.