| Back to Press Releases Trinity Biotech Launches One-Step HIV and Hepatitis Tests Dublin, Ireland, 30 July, 1996 P.R. Newswire. Trinity Biotech plc (NASDAQ TRIBY) today announced the launch of a new one step HIV and Hepatitis B test. These tests are unique in that they require one drop of either whole blood, serum or plasma and no other steps to determine the HIV or Hepatitis B status of a patient. These one step tests, Uni-Gold HIV and Uni-Gold Hepatitis B were launched at the American Association of Clinical Chemistry Meeting in Chicago this week. The crucial difference between Uni-Gold and existing rapid tests on the market (including Trinity's SeroCard product) is that the number of steps to obtain a result is reduced from 7 to 1. This development should enable Trinity to take a major market share in the existing clinical laboratory rapid test market. However, most importantly, the availability for the first time of a simple, easy-to-use, one step, whole blood test will open up a potentially huge new market at doctors' office and over-the-counter level. These point-of-care markets will be the major growth area in diagnostics over the next years. Trinity will immediately commence marketing both products through its existing distributor network and country by country product evaluations will commence immediately. An FDA submission will be made for doctors office use on the pin-prick blood format of the HIV product. Trinity is in negotiations with a number of international healthcare firms interested in marketing the Uni-Gold product into both the existing clinical laboratory markets and into point-of-care markets worldwide. Patents have been filed worldwide on the technology underlying Trinity's one step test. In addition, the Company has negotiated a licence with Becton Dickinson on a format patent relating to one step tests. The combination of Trinity's and Becton Dickinson's patent positions clears the way for the international marketing of Trinity's Uni-Gold product range. Ronan O'Caoimh, CEO of Trinity said "the launch of Uni-Gold HIV and Uni-Gold Hepatitis B is a culmination of four years hard work and dedication by Trinity's Scientists. Uni-Gold is an enabling technology - a diagnostic platform suitable for many tests. Trinity's first tests utilising this platform are Uni-Gold HIV and Hepatitis B. We are dedicated to the expansion of our Uni-Gold product line across a range of infectious diseases and other markers including tests for cardiac disease and cancer. The range of new Uni-Gold products will ensure success in the existing clinical laboratory markets and create substantial new opportunities in the doctors office and over-the-counter markets. Trinity Biotech develops, manufactures and markets simple, rapid, diagnostic tests for the Point-of-Care and Over-the-Counter markets. |