CHATSWORTH, Calif., July 12, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IRIS International, Inc. (Nasdaq:IRIS), a leading manufacturer of urinalysis systems and consumables for use in hospitals and commercial laboratories worldwide, today announced that its Iris Diagnostics Division has signed a new three-year supply agreement with Premier Purchasing Partners LP, the group purchasing unit of Premier, Inc., one of the nation's largest healthcare alliances, representing more than 2,300 U.S. hospitals and 67,000 other healthcare sites. The new contract, effective August 1, 2010 through July 31, 2013, is for Iris's full urinalysis product line including the iQ(R)200 Series Automated Urinalysis Systems, consumables and reagents, and Annual Service Agreements.
"We are delighted to continue our strong affiliation with Premier, a relationship which commenced in 2004, and which has resulted in some 225 iQ200 systems sold and operating among Premier members, to date," stated Thomas Warekois, IRIS Corporate Vice President and President of the Iris Diagnostics Division. "As a recipient of the Premier Pinnacle Award for the third consecutive year in a row, in recognition of performance excellence, Iris places the highest commitment to its collaboration with Premier, and we look forward to continuing to provide its members with the best possible urinalysis systems and service," he added.
About the Premier healthcare alliance
Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,300 U.S. hospitals and 67,000-plus other healthcare sites working together to achieve high quality, cost-effective care. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier works with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has offices in San Diego, Philadelphia and Washington. www.premierinc.com
About IRIS International, Inc.
IRIS International is a leading global in vitro diagnostics company focused on products that analyze particles and living cell forms and structures, or morphology of a variety of body fluids. The Company's products leverage its strengths in flow imaging technology, particle recognition and automation to bring efficiency to hospital and commercial laboratories. The initial applications for its technology have been in the urinalysis market and the Company is the leading worldwide provider of automated urine microscopy and chemistry systems, with an installed base of more than 2,700 systems in more than 50 countries. The Company is expanding its core imaging and morphology expertise into related markets and is developing applications in hematology and urinary tract infections. In addition, the Company is developing molecular diagnostic tests based on its Nucleic Acid Detection Immunoassay, or NADiA®, platform, with applications in oncology and infectious disease. For more information, visit www.proiris.com.