Proven Diagnostics, ViraCor-IBT ink collaborative agreement

Portfolio of ExcellenceSM collaborations will provide Proven Diagnostics customers with access to ViraCor-IBT’s specialized testing menu

Sept. 23, 2009, BETHLEHEM, Pa., and LENEXA, Kan.  – Proven Diagnostics, a clinical laboratory service recently launched by Geisinger Health System, and ViraCor-IBT Laboratories announced today that the companies have entered into a collaborative agreement. Through this collaboration, Proven Diagnostics will offer selected tests from ViraCor-IBT’s menu of allergy, immunology and specialized infectious disease tests to its customers.

This agreement was the first made under Proven Diagnostic’s Portfolio of ExcellenceSM program. Proven Diagnostics seeks highly specialized laboratories to strengthen its growing menu of laboratory tests. In addition, collaborations such as these help ensure that patients receive the most accurate diagnosis, no matter how rare or unusual their conditions.

“This is a great opportunity to work with a company of the caliber of ViraCor-IBT,” said Candice Miller, CEO of Proven Diagnostics. “When we created the Portfolio of ExcellenceSM, we selected the best specialty laboratories in the nation, and ViraCor-IBT is clearly a leader in allergy, immunology and specialized infectious disease testing. This is the first of several collaborations to come. True to Proven Diagnostics’ mission, collaborations such as these are an essential cornerstone of our business.”

In June, ViraCor Laboratories and IBT Laboratories merged to form a specialty diagnostics laboratory, further expanding their laboratory testing menus and reach. The combined company specializes in cellular, immunology, and allergy testing services as well as molecular infectious disease tests designed for patients with compromised immune systems.   

“This collaboration is important because it will provide physicians and patients a new level of service, including ViraCor-IBT’s specialized tests as well as accurate results quickly and efficiently,” said Maureen Loftus, chief business officer of ViraCor-IBT.  “We are delighted to be working with Proven Diagnostics to meet the need of its labs, doctors and patients.”

As part of Geisinger Health System, Proven Diagnostics has embraced the notion of innovation – one area that has garnered Geisinger national attention from the media and from President Barack Obama. And Proven Diagnostics is taking an innovative approach to its delivery of services, with programs such the Portfolio of Excellence.

For more information about Proven Diagnostics, please visit www.provendiagnostics.com.

About ViraCor-IBT Laboratories
ViraCor Laboratories and IBT Laboratories merged in June 2009 to form a unique specialty diagnostics laboratory.  The combined company specializes in cellular, immunology, and allergy testing services as well as molecular assays that detect and monitor microbial pathogens.  The company serves more than 4,000 physicians, hospitals, commercial laboratories and biopharmaceutical companies nationwide.  For more information, visit www.viracor-ibt.com.

About Proven Diagnostics
Proven Diagnostics is a new clinical diagnostic laboratory service provided by Geisinger Health System that is designed to provide medical professionals access to a wide array of clinical laboratory services. These services include microbiology, biochemical and hematology testing, esoteric genetic and allergy tests, and anatomical pathology. Proven Diagnostics combines new and trusted technologies with outstanding customer service in support of physicians and their patients. For more information about Proven Diagnostics, please visit www.provendiagnostics.com.

ViraCor-IBT Media Contact:
Amy Asper, (615) 327-7999
aasper@seigenthaler.com

Proven Diagnostics Media Contact:
Marcy Marshall: (570) 271-8081
mimarshall@geisinger.edu