Company to share perspectives on the role that point-of-care screening for lead exposure can play in improving human health

CINCINNATI, Sept. 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIVO) today announced that Magellan Diagnostics, Inc., a business unit of Meridian, will support and participate in an international conference on the impacts of lead and heavy metal exposure on health.  The meeting, “LEADCON 2017” takes place from 21-23 September and is organized by ICMR – National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad, India.  Meridian’s participation is part of the company’s ongoing, strategic effort to leverage the company’s global footprint to expand Magellan’s blood lead testing platform internationally, where lead poisoning is a significant threat to the health of young children and pregnant women.

With average childhood blood lead levels nearly ten times higher than in the U.S., many of India’s children will suffer the lifelong neurotoxic effects of lead poisoning.  In a country with over 26 million children under age 5, the impact of this environmental poison has been quantified as a loss of 121 million IQ points, with economic costs of $236 billion.  Because lead poisoning often occurs without overt symptoms, it is frequently underdiagnosed, particularly in developing countries where both awareness of the threat and access to diagnostic tools are lacking.  “Magellan’s continued sponsorship of and participation in this conference is part of our commitment to helping protect children from the effects of lead poisoning by creating awareness around the world. We are honored to be a part of this important meeting,” commented Amy Winslow, CEO of Magellan Diagnostics, Inc.

Dr. Lourdes Weltzien, president of Meridian Asia Pacific, will represent Magellan and present a seminar titled: “The Global Threat of Lead Poisoning and the Role of On-Site Rapid Blood Lead Testing.” Her talk will share US experiences in lead poisoning education and prevention gained along with a review of the role that point-of-care (POC) testing can play in making broad-based, community level screening feasible – even in low resource-based settings.

In the near-term, Meridian and Magellan plan to work with experts and advocates in other regions threatened by lead poisoning, following models similar to LEADCON, to help expand education and action on lead poisoning prevention across the globe.

About Magellan Diagnostics, Inc.
Magellan Diagnostics is a medical device company that provides point-of-care systems, clinical laboratory instruments, and analytical laboratory services focused on lead testing. A business unit of Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Magellan is headquartered outside Boston in Billerica, Massachusetts, and is dedicated to offering high-quality, reliable products that help identify children and adults at risk of harm due to lead exposure.  We are committed to educating clinicians, policy makers, payers, families and communities about the permanent health damage caused by lead and how to detect and address lead exposure. For more information, visit www.magellandx.com.

About Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic test kits, rare reagents, specialty biologicals and components. Utilizing a variety of methods, our diagnostic tests provide accuracy, simplicity and speed in the early diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, such as infections and lead poisoning. Meridian’s diagnostic products are used outside of the human body and require little or no special equipment. The Company’s diagnostic products are designed to enhance patient well-being while reducing the total outcome costs of health care. Meridian has strong market positions in the areas of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections, and blood lead level testing. In addition, Meridian is a supplier of rare reagents, specialty biologicals and components used by organizations in the life science and agri-bio industries engaged in research. Its products are also used by companies as components in the manufacture of diagnostics. The Company markets its products and technologies to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, diagnostics manufacturers and agri-bio companies in more than 70 countries around the world. The Company’s shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, symbol VIVO. Meridian’s website address is www.meridianbioscience.com.

Contact:
Amy Winslow
President, Chief Executive Officer
Magellan Diagnostics
Phone: 978-856-2345
Email: info@magellandx.com

John A. Kraeutler
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
Phone: 513.271.3700
Email: mbi@meridianbioscience.com