Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., Announces Menu Expansion on the VITROS® 5,1 FS Chemistry System

(2005-04-11)

First 20 MicroTip™ Assays Now Available

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, announced today the company has released 20 MicroTip™ assays for sale on the VITROS® 5,1 FS Chemistry System. The newly expanded menu enhances onboard testing capability to provide better workflow and workstation consolidation. Therapeutic drug monitoring assays and serum proteins can be routinely performed together with general chemistry tests on a single system, eliminating the need to batch or split samples.

While continuing to provide the unique attributes of VITROS® Chemistry Systems, the VITROS® 5,1 FS is the first VITROS® Chemistry System that will support the new VITROS® MicroTip™ Technology, providing an extended menu of proteins, therapeutic drugs, general chemistry and other critical assays. MicroTip™ Technology is unique in that assays are processed using disposable tips and cuvettes. This eliminates the maintenance and cost associated with water, wash reagents, plumbing, drains, fixed probes and mixing assemblies. MicroTip™ Technology eliminates sample and reagent carryover that may occur with sample probes, uncapped reagents and reusable cuvettes.

The new MicroTip™ Assays are:

%A1c

Apolipoprotein A1

Apolipoprotein B

Complement C3

Complement C4

Caffeine

direct HDL

direct LDL

Gentamicin

Immunoglobulin A

Immunoglobulin G

Immunoglobulin M

Microalbumin

Prealbumin

Rheumatoid Factor

Tobramycin

Transferrin

Valproic Acid

Vancomycin

high sensitivity c-reactive protein

Two of these new assays offer unique advantages. The VITROS® Caffeine assay is the only available test of its kind with FDA clearance for assessment of neonatal apnea. The high sensitivity c-reactive protein assay is the first such test cleared for use in assessing the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) on a random access chemistry system.

The VITROS® 5,1 FS Chemistry System offers design advantages in addition to menu expansion. The system features Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.'s, proven MicroSlide™ Technology for the highest reportable result efficiency, and Intellicheck® Technology for system monitoring, advanced clot and bubble detection management and intelligent error reduction. MicroSensor™ Technology provides rapid (0.75 second), reagentless sample quality/indices assessment and flags only the impacted tests, saving time and minimizing the opportunity for reporting of erroneous results.

About Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, is a leading provider of high-value diagnostic solutions for the global health care community. Committed to developing the most advanced tests for early detection or diagnosis of disease, the company brings products to market that provide timely information and help to facilitate better medical decisions. Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., also provides blood screening and typing products that help to ensure the safety of the world's blood supply. In addition, through its VITROS® MicroSlide™ and enhanced chemiluminescence technologies, the company has transformed the way that clinical laboratories perform testing. Worldwide, health care professionals rely on Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., for innovative diagnostic solutions and services that promote effective diagnoses and enhance patient care. For more information, visit www.orthoclinical.com.

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