BD Launches BD FACSymphony™ High-Speed Cell Analyzer to Enable Identification and Analysis of Rare Cell Types

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Feb. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, today announced the launch of the BD FACSymphony™ system, a novel cell analyzer enabling the simultaneous measurement of up to 50 different characteristics of a single cell.

The BD FACSymphony concept was the result of an ongoing collaboration between BD and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to co-create innovative new technologies that perform high-content, high-throughput measurements on individual cells.

Following two years of benchtop development, NIH has begun using the BD FACSymphony system to enable ongoing sophisticated research at NIAID's Vaccine Research Center (VRC) to accelerate discovery and continue developing its understanding of the immune system.

"Our Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the NIH is a prime example of how public-private partnerships foster innovation," said Linda Tharby, executive vice president and president of BD Life Sciences. "We are looking forward to continuing this relationship to learn how we can continue to support advances in the scientific community in the future."

Compared to alternative cell analysis systems, the BD FACSymphony instrument offers high-speed analysis with detection rates of up to 40,000 events per second, a 20-fold advantage over other non-flow platforms. This advanced platform features an ultra-quiet electronics system adapted from the defense industry that improves detection sensitivity to enable the identification and analysis of rare cell types and events. In addition, the instrument has configurable options to fully leverage the broad portfolio of BD Horizon Brilliant™ reagents. These capabilities allow researchers to conduct deep phenotyping and gain richer scientific insights.  Researchers are also able to take advantage of limited samples by collecting maximal information in a single experiment.

"We are very excited about this revolutionary offering that will change the way we pursue the understanding of individual cells and their environment," said Claude Dartiguelongue, worldwide president of Biosciences for BD. "We believe the unparalleled capabilities of this groundbreaking technology will impact a broad range of research disciplines and ultimately lead to better clinical diagnostics and therapeutic decisions."

BD's diverse portfolio of instruments, reagents and services provide a complete research solution to address the needs of immunologists and other researchers adopting flow cytometry to complement adjacent technologies and workflows. BD's portfolio of research analyzers and cell sorters, spanning from entry-level systems to this new advanced BD FACSymphony analyzer, exemplifies the company's commitment to democratize flow cytometry across the spectrum of research applications.

About BD
BD is a global medical technology company that is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. BD leads in patient and health care worker safety and the technologies that enable medical research and clinical laboratories. The company provides innovative solutions that help advance medical research and genomics, enhance the diagnosis of infectious disease and cancer, improve medication management, promote infection prevention, equip surgical and interventional procedures, optimize respiratory care and support the management of diabetes. The company partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. BD has more than 45,000 associates across 50 countries who work in close collaboration with customers and partners to help enhance outcomes, lower health care delivery costs, increase efficiencies, improve health care safety and expand access to health. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com.

Contact:
Matthew Coppola
BD Public Relations
201.847.7330
Matthew_R_Coppola@bd.com

Monique N. Dolecki
BD Investor Relations
201.847.5378
Monique_Dolecki@bd.com 

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SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)