Cepheid and Broadlane Sign Group Purchasing Contract for GeneXpert(R) Systems and Xpert(TM) Molecular Diagnostic Tests, Including ...( Broadlane Members Include Hospita...),Health

Broadlane Members Include Hospital Systems Such as Tenet and Kaiser

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) today announced it signed a group purchasing contract with Broadlane, a leading supply chain services company serving more than 20,000 acute care hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, physicians practices and other healthcare providers throughout the United States. Under the terms of the contract, Broadlane customers can take advantage of Cepheid's molecular diagnostic instruments, reagents and services for its GeneXpert(R) System and Xpert(TM) line of tests, including Xpert MRSA.

"This agreement with Broadlane expands access to the GeneXpert System, enabling rapid on-demand molecular diagnostics for thousands of healthcare providers large and small," said Rob Koska, Cepheid's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Commercial Operations. "Broadlane counts among its clients more than 915 acute care hospitals, 2,600 sub-acute care facilities and more than 18,000 physician practices. Cepheid is making it both technically and economically possible to perform molecular diagnostics any time and anywhere, representing a major advancement as institutions seek new ways to reduce costly and deadly Healthcare Acquired Infection (HAI) rates."

Cepheid currently markets Xpert MRSA, a molecular test that runs on the GeneXpert System for the rapid detection of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Xpert MRSA results, delivered in just over one hour, enable health professionals to rapidly identify carriers of the potential pathogen and allow healthcare organizations to implement the proper infection control measures, leading to lower healthcare acquired infection rates while improving patient care.

MRSA is the leading cause of HAIs, a growing public health concern. According to U.S. Congressional Record (H.R. Bill 1174), these HAIs contribute to more than $50 billion in annual medical costs.