Inverness Medical Innovations Presents the pima(TM) Point-of-Care CD4 Instrument at ...( WALTHAM Mass. Jan. 7 /- Inverness Med...),Health

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (NYSE: IMA), a leading provider of near-patient diagnostics, monitoring and health management solutions, has introduced the pima(TM) analyzer, a unique test platform which allows immunological testing at Point-of-Care. The initial application of the instrument will be a first of its kind CD4 cell enumeration test. The instrument is one of several novel technologies under development at an Inverness subsidiary, CLONDIAG GmbH, in Jena, Germany.

Clinical trials began in the 4th quarter 2008 and the instrument with CD4 application will be launched to select markets in mid 2009. Inverness has featured the product at the 15th Annual Conference on AIDS and STIs (ICASA) in Dakar, Senegal on December 3-7, 2008. Information on the system can also be found on the product website at www.pimatest.com.

In those who have been confirmed as being HIV positive, CD4 testing is a critical baseline measurement to gauge the state of their immune system and for clinicians to initiate antiretroviral (ART) HIV therapy. Measurement of CD4 levels indicates how far the disease has advanced and the risk to the patient of complications or debilitating infections. In addition to the baseline measurement, CD4 is also measured generally 2 to 4 times annually during course of HIV therapy.

The Inverness CD4 system's design is optimal for use both in point of care settings in the developing world as well as in the doctor's office in the developed world. It is a simple to operate, portable system with a rechargeable battery and provides rapid results. Using a small finger stick blood sample, the platform will be able to deliver not only CD4 cell enumeration but ultimately allow analysis of a wide array of a
'/>"/>