- New solution underscores Abbott's continued commitment to ensuring the safety of the blood supply

AMSTERDAM, June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today previewed a prototype for the company's next-generation blood screening system at an event coinciding with this year's International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Meeting in Amsterdam from June 2-5, 2013. Abbott's new system features a user-responsive design based upon insights provided by leading blood screening experts from around the world.

At an event held during the ISBT meeting, blood screening experts had a chance to preview Abbott's screening prototype as well as provide additional feedback on the system prior to further stages of development.

"Around the globe and across the healthcare continuum, healthcare professionals have consistently expressed a desire for the simplification of critical interactions in the lab – among individuals, instruments, and information," said Luc Ruysen, divisional vice president, Diagnostics Global Strategy and Emerging Markets, Abbott. "To address these needs, Abbott's researchers, engineers, designers, and scientists worked side-by-side with laboratorians to develop a next-generation solution with the features they desired."

Abbott's continuous improvements to blood screening technologies for more than 40 years underscore the company's commitment to ensuring the safety of the world's blood supply. One of the best examples of Abbott's leadership in this area is the company's nearly 30-year focus on the advancement of HIV/AIDS testing technologies and the establishment of the Abbott Global Surveillance Program in 1994.

The Abbott Global Surveillance Program actively monitors the emergence of new HIV strains to identify and respond to variants before they become a major public health concern. Its research provides a scientific basis for assay development to ensure that tests can reliably detect HIV infections. During the last decade, the program has also expanded to monitor Hepatitis B, which similar to the HIV virus, can mutate and is genetically diverse.

"Every day the transfusion of blood and blood products helps save lives," said Harry Bos, Ph.D. MBA, Director of Diagnostics, Sanquin Blood Supply, Amsterdam. "At Sanquin we are helping to test new concepts and systems. We bring together all the knowledge and expertise regarding blood collection and transfusion to improve the quality and safety of our blood products."

To learn more about the importance of donating blood and blood products, please click here.

About Abbott Diagnostics

Abbott is a global leader in in vitro diagnostics and offers a broad range of innovative instrument systems and tests for hospitals, reference labs, molecular labs, blood banks, physician offices, and clinics. With more than 22,000 customers in more than 100 countries, Abbott's diagnostic products offer customers automation, convenience, bedside testing, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. Abbott has helped transform the practice of medical diagnosis from an art to a science through the company's commitment to improving patient care and lowering costs.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the development of products and technologies that span the breadth of healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and employs approximately 70,000 people.

Visit Abbott at www.abbott.com and connect with us on Twitter at @AbbottNews.

SOURCE Abbott