BD Diagnostics has expanded its microbiology portfolio to include new automated instrumentation technologies that will enable the Company to offer innovative total lab automation solutions to hospitals and laboratories worldwide.

The acquisition of KIESTRA Lab Automation BV, a Netherlands-based company that designs, develops, manufactures, markets and sells innovative lab automation solutions for the microbiology lab, complements BD's microbiology portfolio of instruments, reagents and supplies.

KIESTRA is the leader in Total Lab Automation, and its solutions automate manual and time-consuming tasks within the microbiology laboratory to increase productivity, while still relying on the microbiologists' technical expertise to deliver high-quality results.

'Microbiology labs are facing unprecedented challenges - including cost containment pressures and a shortage of qualified staff - while the need for faster delivery of more accurate results is increasing to ensure optimal patient care,' said Jamie Condie, Vice President and General Manager, BD Diagnostics - Diagnostic Systems.

'The combination of BD's broad portfolio of microbiology platforms, reagents and supplies with KIESTRA's automated instrumentation technologies will enable us to offer a more comprehensive microbiology lab solution to hospitals and laboratories worldwide.'

KIESTRA offers two lines of automated solutions: Total Lab Automation (TLA) and Work Cell Automation (WCA). KIESTRA developed the world's first TLA solution for microbiology, KIESTRA, it's the sample that moves!®, in 2007 as a high throughput and customizable track-based system. Total Lab Automation is designed to significantly increase overall microbiology lab productivity, streamline workflow and shorten the time to results. KIESTRA's Work Cell solutions will offer customers a modular and scalable approach to automate their lab within current space and budget constraints.