EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc
("EKF", the "Company" or the "Group")
Distribution Agreement for Quo-Test HbA1c Analyzer
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc (AIM: EKF), the AIM quoted point-of-care business, announces that it has signed a three-year distribution agreement with Tosoh Europe N.V., part of Tosoh Corporation, the global chemical and specialty materials company, for the distribution of the Company's Quo-Test HbA1c Analyzer in the Middle East and Africa.
EKF's Quo-Test is a fully automated desktop HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) analyzer that provides easy and reliable HbA1c measurement for monitoring and managing diabetes in a Point-of-Care setting, such as diabetes clinics and doctors' surgeries. The sample results are available within four minutes from a 4 microliter sample taken from a finger prick or venous whole blood. Step by step instructions displayed on the Quo-Test analyzer's clear, multi-lingual display, reduce staff training time to a minimum, eliminating the opportunity for user-related errors.
The Tosoh Bioscience division is one of the largest global manufacturers of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) equipment for glycated hemoglobin analysis, offering scalable solutions predominantly in core laboratories. Tosoh Europe have seen a growing need for Point-of-Care HbA1c analysis alongside their traditional laboratory market and have identified EKF Diagnostics as an important partner to work with them to provide this to their customers. The agreement will allow both EKF and Tosoh Europe to work in markets they have previously been unable to access and provides Tosoh Europe with the opportunity to offer new services to suit changing customer requirements.
After the initial three-year term for the Middle East and Africa, the agreement has a rolling one-year renewal with the option to extend the agreement into EU countries as required.
Commenting, Julian Baines, CEO of EKF, said: "We are delighted to partner with Tosoh Europe as they expand their need for Point-of-Care analysis in a time where those suffering from diabetes are at greater risk. This new agreement continues to strengthen the position of our core business and gives us the opportunity to move into new territories with a strong partner. We hope to build a successful working partnership with Tosoh Europe and look forward to extending the agreement into additional markets."
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc |
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Christopher Mills, Non-executive Chairman |
Tel: +44 (0) 29 2071 0570 |
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Julian Baines, CEO |
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Richard Evans, FD & COO |
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N+1 Singer |
Tel: 020 7496 3000 |
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Aubrey Powell / George Tzimas (Corporate Finance) |
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Walbrook PR Limited |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7933 8780 or ekf@walbrookpr.com |
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Paul McManus / Lianne Cawthorne |
Mob: +44 (0) 7980 541 893 / +44 (0) 7584 391 303 |
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About EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc (www.ekfdiagnostics.com)
EKF is a leading point-of-care diagnostics and central laboratory assay manufacturer with an estimated 80,000 hemoglobin, hematocrit, HbA1c, glucose and lactate analyzers in regular use across more than 100 countries. EKF specializes in developing tests for use in anemia and diabetes diagnosis and management, as well as providing a as well as providing Central Laboratory & Lifesciences services in the area of clinical chemistry, small lab analysers, contract fermentation, enzyme manufacturing and specialised contract manufacturing.
About Tosoh Europe N.V. (https://www.tosohbioscience.com/)
Tosoh Europe N.V. is a part of Tosoh Corporation, which is a diversified international chemical and specialty materials company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Tosoh Bioscience's diagnostic systems feature advanced immunoassay technologies such as the AIA & AIA-CL series of automated immunoassay analyzers, G series of glycohemoglobin analyzers, and molecular testing solutions that support the monitoring of such life-threatening disease as diabetes, certain cancers, and microbial infections.