i-STAT Announces Product Distribution Agreement With Abbott Labs and HP

i-STAT Corp. announced the signing of an agreement for product distribution and customer support of i-STAT products and products based on i-STAT technology with Abbott Laboratories and Hewlett-Packard Co.

Under terms of the agreement, Abbott Laboratories will distribute the i-STAT Portable Clinical Analyzer and i-STAT cartridges in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East starting July 29. On Nov. 1, Abbott will become the exclusive distributor of i-STAT cartridges in these regions and will assume full customer support for i-STAT cartridges for existing and new customers. Distribution of i-STAT products by Abbott in these regions will be according to the terms of the distribution agreement entered into by Abbott and i-STAT in August 1998.

HP's Medical Products Group will continue to market and sell, worldwide, the HP Blood Analysis Module, which utilizes the i-STAT technology. The HP Blood Analysis Module and the i-STAT Portable Clinical Analyzer will benefit from several new test parameters to be introduced by i-STAT later this year and in 2000 as i-STAT continues to expand its point-of-care testing platform.

i-STAT Corp. develops, manufactures and markets diagnostic products for blood analysis that provide healthcare professionals critical diagnostic information accurately and immediately at the point of patient care. Through the use of advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology, established principles of electrochemistry and state-of-the-art computer electronics and software, i-STAT developed a hand-held automated blood analyzer capable of performing a panel of commonly ordered blood tests on two or three drops of blood in just two minutes at the patient's side.

i-STAT Corp., Phone: 609-443-9300