Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, April 23, 2010: Ocimum Biosolutions, a leading provider of genomic solutions, today announced the launch of its quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) services in India. qRT-PCR technology is routinely used for a variety of applications such as expression analysis of candidate genes, validation of microarrays, gene copy number determination and target detection with Taqman® probes or SYBR green.

The qRT-PCR services offered by Ocimum include sample preparation such as RNA/DNA extraction, purification and QC; design of high-performance RT-PCR assays and customized PCR primers/ probe based on TaqMan® assay or SYBR green; technical support for experimental design based on client’s need and criteria; and data analysis services including delta-delta Cts values and graphical presentation of genes with unique expression and differential regulation patterns.

Ms. Anu Acharya, CEO, Ocimum Biosolutions, said, “qRT-PCR technology finds applications in several areas such as drug target and biomarker discovery, food authenticity, mutation detection, clinical microbiology, validation of array data and gene quantification. Our services will offer clients high technical sensitivity, high precision, high throughput, lower turn-around-times and decreased costs.”

About Ocimum Biosolutions

Ocimum Biosolutions is a leading integrated global genomics outsourcing partner with solutions spanning Bioresearch Design and Execution; Data Analytics and Insights; Laboratory, Sample & Data Management; and Integrated Solutions. Ocimum provides comprehensive genomic services and reference databases; data analysis; biorepository services such as sample accrual & collection, IRB approvals, CRO training, sample, clinical data capture and management; life science lab information management solutions; and also offers both research level and GLP-compliant services. Ocimum has presence in three continents, the United States, Europe and India and will have globally certified GLP and CLIA labs to enable drug discovery, development and diagnostics. Over 2/3rd of the top 25 pharma companies, leading research institutes and emerging biotech companies worldwide have chosen us as their preferred outsourcing partner and utilize our expertise for understanding underlying mechanisms of diseases, discovery and prioritization of gene targets and biomarkers.

Our global infrastructure, standardized procedures, capacity, expertise and highly skilled staff support drug development programs from pre-clinical target development and toxicogenomic assessment to clinical biomarker identification and patient stratification. In creating the world’s largest commercial gene expression databases – BioExpress® and ToxExpress®, we have developed expertise and capabilities that are unparalleled in the genomic services industry.  Ocimum has been consistently ranked as India’s fastest growing biotechnology company and one of the fastest growing technology companies over the last five years by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

For more information, please visit www.ocimumbio.com.

For media queries, please contact:

Ms. Dhanya Menon
Phone: +91-40-66986700
E-mail: [email protected]

Stan Yakatan, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Katan Associates, is to give a keynote presentation on the recent approval of a follow-on version of Pfizer’s Genotropin (recombinant human growth hormone), and the beginning of the end of an era where biopharmaceuticals enjoyed immunity from competition even after expiration of their patent protection at GTCbio’s Antibody Partnering & Technology Summit on October 29-30, 2009 in San Francisco, CA.

Yakatan’s session will describe many of the key scientific challenges facing the nascent “biogenerics” industry and the evolving regulatory framework that will shape its competition with innovator companies. Summit attendees with hear Yakatan describe key differences between the biogeneric and traditional generic drug business models versus the M&A activity that has was started in pursuit of the expertise and resources needed to be competitive in this commercial space. Yakatan’s address will also explore the commercial opportunities presented by recent and upcoming European patent expirations, as well as the challenges presented by competition from second generation innovator products.

After 30 years as a successful CEO, entrepreneur, and operational manager, Stan Yakatan has dedicated the last 12 years of his career to sharing his experiences with management teams interested in building technology based companies. His experience as a “C” level executive is far reaching he has served in such a capacity with: New England Nuclear, EI Dupont, ICN Pharma, New Brunswick Scientific and Biosearch. These experiences have provided him with management skills and a corporate finance acumen that he enjoys sharing with others.

Stan has founded or co-founded in excess of 15 companies in the United States, Canada, Israel, France and Germany. In many cases he has also served as the initial CEO, and Chairman of these companies. In his career, he has advised several of the world’s leading venture capital firms including TVM (Germany), Ventana (USA), MSP (USA), and Biocapital (Canada). During the decade of the 1990′s Biocapital was the most successful venture capital fund in Canada.

The purpose of this Publications (http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/Over-the-Counter-Diagnostic-Products-World-Markets-1331.html) analysis is to describe the specific market segments of the over-the-counter (OTC) diagnostic products and home healthcare markets. It examines the diagnostic measurement devices and their reagents and supplies that are utilized in clinics and by patients directly in their homes to diagnose and monitor disease. This study also includes a review of home healthcare kits and devices that measure health-related conditions. Focus is on market dynamics and current market drivers of the OTC and home self-testing diagnostics market. This report also looks at the industry challenges and potential threats, and it makes strategic recommendations for boosting market share. The analysis covers healthcare-related devices that are designed for the home market in order to allow consumers to assess their health status through self-testing. In addition, this review examines some biowarfare detection systems. The emphasis in this report is on those companies and products that are actively developing and marketing diagnostic reagents and supplies in market segments that are targeted for direct sale to the public. It is believed that this market segment has the potential for growth rates above 15% per year over the next five years in some of the less well-explored and well-developed areas.

Table of Contents : 1 Overview 7
1.1 Statement of Report 7
1.2 About This Report 7
1.3 Scope of the Report 9
1.4 Objectives 10
1.5 Methodology 11
1.6 Executive Summary 11

2 Sector Overview 17
2.1 Global Diagnostic Products Industry 17
2.2 Global OTC Diagnostic Products Industry 18
2.2.1 General Global Market 18
2.2.2 German OTC and Home Self-Testing Diagnostic Markets 22
2.2.3 U.K. OTC and Home Self-Test Diagnostic Markets 22
2.2.3.1 U.K. Market Statistics 23
2.2.3.2 U.K. Competitive Analysis 24
2.2.3.3 U.K. Market Access 25
2.2.4 French OTC Diagnostic Market 25
2.2.5 Italian OTC Diagnostic Market 26
2.2.6 Spanish OTC Diagnostic Market 26
2.2.7 Japanese OTC Diagnostic Market 27
2.2.8 Chinese OTC Diagnostic Market 28
2.3 Description of the U.S. OTC Diagnostics Industry Segment 29
2.3.1 Market Overview 29
2.3.2 Diagnostic Test Categories 30
2.4 Market Drivers in the OTC Diagnostics Sector 31
2.4.1 Overview 31
2.4.2 Market Segments 31
2.5 Key Players in the OTC Diagnostics Segment 32
2.6 Sector Analysis 34

3 Market Analysis: Size, Growth, Share and Competitors 35
3.1 Glucose Monitoring 35
3.1.1 Glucose Control in Diabetic Patients 41
3.1.2 Tight Glucose Control in Treating Diabetes 41
3.1.3 Glucose-Monitoring Devices 42
3.1.4 Key Issues for Glucose Monitoring 43
3.1.5 Glucose Device Description 43
3.1.6 Precision in Glucose Meters 44
3.1.7 Limitations of Existing Glucose Monitoring Products 45
3.1.8 Over-the-Counter (OTC) Self-Testing Glucose Market 46
3.1.9 Worldwide Glucose Testing Market 48
3.1.9.1 U.S. Market 49
3.1.9.2 European Market 53
3.1.9.3 Asian Market 54
3.1.9.3.1 Japanese Market 55
3.1.9.3.2 China Market 56
3.1.9.3.3 Indian Market 58
3.1.9.4 ROW Markets 59
3.1.10 Reagents and Equipment 59
3.1.10.1 Blood Glucose Monitoring 59
3.1.10.2 Lancets 60
3.1.10.3 Blood Glucose Monitor and Insulin Doser 67
3.1.10.4 Blood Glucose Reagent Test Strips 67
3.1.10.5 Control Solutions and Calibrators 68
3.1.10.6 Sharps Devices 68
3.1.10.7 Needle Destruction Devices 69
3.1.10.8 Voice-Operated Glucose Meters 70
3.1.11 Glucose Meters 73
3.2 Pregnancy Testing 98
3.2.1 Major Players 99
3.2.1.1 U.S. Market 100
3.2.1.2 European Market 101
3.2.2 Diagnostic Kit Information 101
3.3 Hepatitis Testing 108
3.4 Drugs of Abuse Screening Testing 111
3.5 Infectious Disease Testing 126
3.5.1 HIV 128
3.5.2 Tuberculosis Testing 139
3.5.3 Infectious Disease Testing in Non-medical Settings 140
3.5.4 West Nile Virus 142
3.5.5 Urinary Tract Infections 143
3.6 Cholesterol Testing 144
3.7 Coagulation Testing 146
3.8 Urine Dipstick Testing 153
3.9 Fertility Testing 153
3.9.1 Players 155
3.9.2 Diagnostic Test Kits 156
3.10 At-Home DNA Analysis 159
3.11 Biowarfare Detection 164
3.12 Home Patient Monitoring Devices 166
3.13 Home Patient Alert Systems 167
3.14 Home Genetic Testing Kits 167
3.15 Home Paternity Testing 171
3.16 Health Hazards Detection 172
3.16.1 Lead 172
3.16.2 Radon 172
3.16.3 Asbestos 172
3.16.4 Pesticides 173
3.16.5 Mold 173
3.16.6 Carbon Monoxide 173
3.16.7 Water Quality 173
3.16.8 Bacteria in Water 173
3.17 Thyroid Disease 174
3.18 Carpal Tunnel 174
3.19 Allergies 174
3.20 Nutrition and Wellness 174
3.20.1 Testosterone and Male Hormones 174
3.20.2 Female Hormones 174
3.20.3 Antioxidants 174
3.20.4 Sleep Apnea 175
3.20.5 Mineral Check 175
3.20.6 Stress Check 175
3.21 Colorectal Cancer (Occult Blood) Testing 176
3.22 Alzheimer?s Disease Home Screening Test 177
3.23 Tobacco Testing 177

For more information, please visit :
http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/Over-the-Counter-Diagnostic-Products-World-Markets-1331.html
Or email us at [email protected] or call +919272852585

GVK Biosciences Private Limited (GVK BIO), Asia’s leading Contract Research Organization, will make a presentation ACS National Meeting. The talk will be given by GVK BIO’s Head of Informatics and Senior Vice at the 238th President, Dr. Jagarlapudi Sarma.

Titled, GOSTAR: GVK BIO online structure activity relationship database: Data and its utility, the presentation focuses on the GVK BIO Knowledge Databases and the creation of a web-based User Interface.

GVK BIO is well known for the development of Knowledge databases of chemical entities (~4 million compounds) with structure activity relationships. Information relating chemical structure, biological target, in vitro and in vivo assay for efficacy/pharmacodynamics, clinical as well as Pharmacokinetics and toxicity is well integrated in different databases wherein the source information has been covered from a variety of Journals articles and patents for a variety of target families. Many pharmaceutical companies have been using these databases for different applications and/or modeling studies.

GVK BIO has integrated all its individual databases into one single database, GOSTAR which has a very good web-based UI for different types of online queries. In the process of integration of all individual databases into one data model, all the data has been standardized and necessary taxonomy and ontology were used to handle the integrated data. Any query will extract the data from all databases whether they feature in discovery, development or marketed drug space. Further, one can analyze the retrieved molecules for any off-target activity as well as other indications. A number of descriptors can be generated using the online available tools and the data can be analyzed for various models. Tools have been developed to study and to visualize the chemical, biological and Therapeutic indication space as well as company related information. Further tools were developed to filter the data based on chemical, pharmacological or toxicity filters and help the research process for better drug discovery. We will be discussing some case studies on the usefulness of the database in the drug discovery.

About ACS:

ACS is the world’s largest scientific society—with more than 154,000 members—dedicated to advancing the chemical sciences and technology; communicating to the public the value of chemistry and chemical engineering; and supporting the chemical profession and its practitioners. ACS organizes two national expositions each year, each attracting an estimated 11,000-13,000 chemists, chemical engineers, academicians, graduate and postdoctoral students, and other professionals.

About GVK BIO:

GVK Biosciences Private Limited (GVK BIO) is one of Asia’s leading Contract Research Organizations and has 18 of the top 25 Big Pharma and 55 Biotech/Mid-size Pharma companies as its customers. Spread across 4 locations in India, GVK BIO is headquartered at Hyderabad, India and employs 1500+ people to assist its clients in their efforts in Pharmaceutical Research.

San Diego, CA ( Prfriend ) April 1, 2009 – In order to expand the range and reach of its affiliate program, top health testing kits and drug test product distributor TestCountry.com partnered with Google Affiliate Network this February. This is in addition to the company’s already existing affiliate networking arrangement with ShareASale.com.

We are very happy with how ShareASale.com has worked with us in the last three years, and we are happy that the current relationship between TestCountry and Share-A-Sale is still going strong

“TestCountry just wanted the opportunity to test the waters and widen its network through the Google Affiliate Network,” Ms. Stoyan added.

The Google Affiliate Network program with TestCountry.com was launched this February. Within a short period, over 1,000 affiliates of the (http://www.testcountry.com/categories.html?cat=18&ref=PRRelease) drug testing kits distributor website signed up for the program, marking the effort as a complete success. Ms. Stoyan has expressed optimism that more TestCountry.com affiliates will be joining through the Google Affiliate Network.

As its name suggests, the Google Affiliate Network is the affiliate marketing arm of the search engine giant Google. The company was the result of the reorganization that Google made after it had taken over the operations of the DoubleClick Performics Affiliates network in March 2008. DoubleClick Performics was the first affiliate network that offers full service on the Internet. It was founded in 1998.

Ms. Stoyan noted that in the TestCountry.com experience, the Google Affiliate Network offered easy ways to jump start an affiliate marketing program through the network’s interactive training webinar and affiliate manager system.

The Google Affiliate Network also rewards hardworking affiliates by conferring upon them VIP and Rising Stars Affiliate status, according to Ms. Stoyan. The network also promotes new merchants in the program through its forums and through its weekly newsletters.

Ms. Stoyan added that for our (http://www.testcountry.com) home testing kits online store, it is easy to manage information in the Google Affiliate Network. She said that the network allows its affiliate managers to make reviews on affiliate planner profiles. These profiles include information about audience classification and site traffic statistics.

On the other hand, ShareASale.com is a Chicago-based affiliate network that was founded on April 2000. Since its incorporation as an affiliate network, ShareASale.com has become one of the most respected and one of the most reliable networks on the Internet today.

Ms. Stoyan said that the strengths of ShareASale.com lie in the fact that the company is managed very professionally and has one of the best affiliate manager systems available today. ShareASale.com basically enables the affiliate manager to create customized categories for affiliate groups to make it easier to connect with the group’s members. Communication is even more possible with other members through the ShareASale.com network via the website’s newsletter tools.

Aside from this, Ms. Stoyan also stated that the ShareASale.com network also allows its affiliate managers to access their program’s performance statistics as well as to generate updated reports. Uploading creatives is also easy to do with ShareASale.com.

About TestCountry:
TestCountry.com is an online home test kit superstore. The company offers home or work drug test kits for a variety of needs, including (http://www.testcountry.com/categories.html?cat=10&ref=PRRelease) HIV / AIDS testing kits, pregnancy and fertility testing, paternity and DNA testing, substance use testing, health hazard detection, disease and cancer detection, and nutrition and wellness testing. TestCountry specializes in easy-to-use tests that can be individually administered in the security and privacy of a home or office. All shipments are packaged discreetly, thus respecting the privacy of clients. The company operates exclusively through their web site, found at Home Health & Drug Testing Kits, and features a question and answer section providing responses to many common concerns users may have related to the various types of home testing.

Contact:
Global Business Support Systems, Inc. DBA TestCountry
9520 Chesapeake Drive, Ste 601
San Diego, CA 92123

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San Diego, CA ( Prfriend ) March 31, 2009 – Until now, determining a person’s lead exposure has been an invasive procedure involving painful blood tests.

However, that has changed thanks to LeadConfirm Professional, a new (http://www.leadtestconfirm.com) saliva-based lead test that screens for lead exposure in the body using oral fluids.

Developed by Confirm BioSciences, a San Diego-based bio tech company, this test does not require any needle sticks or blood from the body. Just a few simple swabs of the inside cheek is all that is needed to determine how much lead a person has been exposed to.

LeadConfirm Professional comes at just the right time. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, more than 1 million workers in more than 100 different occupations are exposed to lead every day, making lead overexposure one of the most common overexposure found in industry, and one of the leading causes of workplace illness.

Even worse: OSHA also notes that lead is also a major potential public health risk; one that may be present in hazardous concentrations in food, water, and air and sources include paint, urban dust, and folk remedies.

Lead poisoning is the leading environmentally induced illness in children and nearly 1 million children five years and younger have lead levels equal or greater to the levels experts consider “dangerous.”

The effects of lead poison on children include speech delay, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, stunted growth, neurological and renal damage, mental retardation, anemia, and hearing loss.

“There is tremendous need for this product, as lead poisoning is a major issue in our society,” said Zeynep Ilgaz, President and CEO of Confirm BioSciences and a mother of two small children. “This test will be available to the professional market and through doctor’s offices for individuals who would like to have their lead levels checked.”

Unlike existing tests which use invasive blood tests, LeadConfirm Professional screens for lead exposure in the body using saliva, a vital bodily fluid that carries molecules, many bio markers of disease, evidence of drug use and many other indicators (known and unknown) of what is happening inside the human body.

In addition, existing tests are usually only performed after a health care professional suspects lead exposure – and often that is too late for anything to be done. However, the non-invasive nature of LeadConfirm Professional makes it easier to (http://www.leadtestconfirm.com) check for lead exposure – and, if needed, prescribe treatment – sooner than ever.

Confirm BioSciences, LeadConfirm Professional’s parent company, researched its patented methodology and process at its partner lab, Western Slope Laboratory in Troy, Michigan.

Researchers analyzed the saliva of 100 children living in North Carolina at the same time as those childrens’ blood was by that state’s Department of Health. Studies determined a 1.00 (100%) correlation between lead levels found in the saliva tests vs. blood tests making lead test as accurate as a blood test.

By comparing the results of the two lead test studies it became apparent that analyzing saliva is an effective means to establish body lead – especially if this test is viewed as a “screening method” with the recommendation of a physician involved in the event results exceed a certain level.

LeadConfirm Professional comes with a FDA approved collection device that should be administered by a doctor or health care professional. Once the saliva is collected, the vials are sent to the lab with a pre-paid envelope provided in the kit and the results can be accessed online or by phone within 5-6 business days after the lab receives the kit.

The tests are analyzed CLIA by state-of-the-art Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with Mass Spectrometry X2 (LC/MS/MS) technology to determine the amount of lead present in the body. Positive results should be followed up with a physician for further analysis and treatment.

Confirm BioSciences has successfully developed and manufactured numerous screening tests including HairConfirm, the first at home hair follicle drug test in the market, and SteroidConfirm the first steroid test kit on the market.

In addition, Confirm BioSciences distributes products in over 50 countries throughout the world under brand-name or private-label arrangements.

LeadConfirm Professional will be marketed through distributors for the professional market listed at http://www.leadtestconfirm.com. The LeadConfirm Professional Test will be available March 23, 2009, with a suggested retail price of $79.99.

About Confirm BioSciences
Confirm BioSciences is a provider of diagnostic drugs of abuse and health test kits. The company is privately held and based in San Diego. For more information, visit Confirm BioSciences.

Contact:
Janet Russell
Confirm Biosciences
888-526-6347
[email protected]

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Hyderabad, India March 26, 2009: As a part of the Tuberculosis Day awareness campaign, Ocimum Biosolutions launched a special campaign to spearhead the use of its tuberculosis typing kits. According to WHO, one-third of the world’s population is currently infected with the TB bacillus. Moreover, 5-10% of people who are infected with TB bacilli (but who are not infected with HIV) become sick or infectious at some time during their life.

Ocimum Biosolutions offers a kit that can be simultaneously used for detection as well as typing of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. This is a PCR-based method, which depends on the amplification of a highly polymorphic Direct Repeat (DR) locus in M. tuberculosis genome. This technique is highly useful for clinical samples as it can detect the causative bacteria and is capable of providing epidemiological information on strain identities. This technique has high specificity and sensitivity with clinical samples. This kit contains one membrane, positive control 1(M. tuberculosis strainH37Rv), positive control 2 (M. bovis BCG P3), Primer DRa (biotinylated) and Primer Drb.

As a part of Tuberculosis Day awareness drive, Ocimum Biosolutions calls for collaborations with researchers, scientists and organizations working to combat the global challenges in tuberculosis.

For further information, contact us at [email protected].

About Ocimum Biosolutions

Ocimum Biosolutions is a leading integrated genomics company providing comprehensive genomic reference databases, life science lab information management solutions, GLP-compliant microarray services and essential research consumables. Over 2/3rd of the top 25 pharma companies, leading research institutes and emerging biotech companies worldwide have chosen us as their preferred outsourcing partner and utilize our expertise for understanding underlying mechanisms of diseases, discovery and prioritization of gene targets and biomarkers.

For more information, please visit www.ocimumbio.com.

Contanct:

For media-related queries, please contact:

Ms. Nazia Sultana

+91 40 66627200

[email protected]

Gene Logic (An Ocimum Biosolutions Company), a leading genomics company, today announced an enhanced range of services through its new interactive website. The website integrates 14 years of research & development in Biomarker Discovery and areas like SNP analysis, Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS), Microarray Profiling & Genotyping. The website also showcases new priority application areas like Diagnostics, Agriculture, and Food & Nutrition.
Gene Logic, who has been providing Genomics services & solutions since 1995, recently expanded its range of service offerings with the purchase of an Illumina iScan system. The system will be used with the recently released high density Infinium HD assays, Illumina’s most advanced assays, as well as their whole genome expression and methylation technologies. This technology provides clients with another option for GWAS and determination of chromosomal Copy Number Variation in DNA samples. The company is offering a limited time introductory pricing for its services on Illumina platform untill April 30, 2009.
On this launch, Gene Logic encouraged and called for partnerships with organizations and scientists working in areas like Diagnostics, Agro-Tech, Food & Neutraceuticals and other Discovery Areas saying that there is a huge scope of applying genomics in R&D and for improving scientific support mechanisms in a consumers’ perspective.
Anu Acharya, CEO, Gene Logic said, “We have been partnering with many pharma and biotech companies to help them focus on their core competencies and outsource their ‘genomics programs’ to us. We have also recently launched a number of accessible programs for Emerging, Small & Mid-sized biotechs, sector-specific innovators in Diagnostics, Agro-biotech, Neutraceuticals & Food Science.” She added, “Our new website emerges from a worldwide survey we have been doing for the past few months. It incorporates feedback and suggestions from the genomics community, who have trusted us for over 15 years. This new website signals Gene Logic 2.0 that has geared up to deal with Genomics 2.0 challenges. We are also pleased to launch our new services and products along with our complete genomics outsourcing options. ”

About Gene Logic (An Ocimum Biosolutions Company)

Gene Logic is a leading integrated genomics company providing comprehensive genomic reference databases, life science lab information management solutions, GLP-compliant microarray services and essential research consumables. Over 2/3rd of the top 25 pharma companies, leading research institutes and emerging biotech companies worldwide have chosen us as their preferred outsourcing partner and utilize our expertise for understanding underlying mechanisms of diseases, discovery and prioritization of gene targets and biomarkers.
We are a preferred outsourcing partner for providing integrated biorepository and genomic services for several global pharmaceutical companies. Our global infrastructure, standardized procedures, capacity, expertise and highly skilled staff support drug development programs from pre-clinical target development and toxicogenomic assessment to clinical biomarker identification and patient stratification. In creating the world’s largest commercial gene expression databases – BioExpress® and ToxExpress®, we have developed expertise and capabilities that are unparalleled in the genomic services industry. We provide multiple GLP-compliant platforms for gene expression and SNP genotyping data generation. We also provide full biorepository and genomic services support for the Genetic Alliance, which is an umbrella organization representing ~600 genetic advocacy groups. Besides providing the physical infrastructure for storing thousands of biological samples, we provide services to assist sample accrual, IRB approvals, CRO training, sample collection, clinical data capture and management.

For more information, please visit www.genelogic.com

For media and investment related appointments, please contact:
Ms. Nazia Sultana
E-mail: [email protected]

San Diego, CA ( Prfriend ) March 12, 2009 – A study published recently with the American Lung Association reported that smoking and inhalation of secondhand smoke in the workplace is costing the United States government and employers in the country an average of US$10 billion every year.

Around $5 billion of that money goes to direct medical aid for workers who have become sick with ailments related to smoking and secondhand smoke inhalation. The other $5 billion is channeled through workers’ compensation and disability benefits granted to employees who have gone through smoking-related illnesses.

Because of the rising costs of providing medical benefits to employees who smoke or inhale smoke at the workplace, there has been a sharp increase in the number of businesses that are making use of workplace testing products associated with tobacco and nicotine. This increase has been observed over the course of the past couple of years. The same goes for the number of companies providing tobacco and nicotine testing products.

TestCountry.com is among those companies that distribute specialized testing products to determine tobacco use as well as the presence of nicotine in an employee’s body. The company sells these tobacco and nicotine testing products to a wide range of industries, including food service companies, health care sectors, senior care providers, and even large corporations.

Serhat Pala, president of TestCountry.com, explains: “In this day and age, not only are employers of all types concerned about the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, but these businesses, companies and firms are starting to focus a great deal of attention on the use of tobacco products among their employees.”

“Although perfectly legal, cigarettes and other tobacco products can have very destructive health consequences for the user but also have negative impact on an employer on many different levels,” Pala adds.

It cannot be denied that tobacco and nicotine usage does have an economic impact on businesses every year. A report has shown that employees who smoke have at least a 50% higher absenteeism rate over nonsmokers. Also, the amount of cumulative time spent on smoking breaks each year cost businesses in the US millions of dollars in lost productivity every year.

The health risks are large, as well. The American Lung Association had stated that 3,400 deaths are caused by lung cancer every year, while 46,000 deaths result from heart disease incurred from habitual smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke. The report also indicated that people who are exposed to secondhand smoke are 17% more likely to develop such diseases.

Aside from employers, people who wish to quit smoking have also begun to use tobacco and nicotine test kits. Not only does using these kits help them stop the habit, but it also prepares them for obtaining health or life insurance policies.

About TestCountry
TestCountry.com is an online home test kit superstore. The company offers home or work drug test kits for a variety of needs, including HIV / AIDS testing kits, pregnancy and fertility testing, paternity and DNA testing, substance use testing, health hazard detection, disease and cancer detection, and nutrition and wellness testing. TestCountry specializes in easy-to-use tests that can be individually administered in the security and privacy of a home or office. All shipments are packaged discreetly, thus respecting the privacy of clients. The company operates exclusively through their web site, found at http://www.testcountry.com/, and features a question and answer section providing responses to many common concerns users may have related to the various types of home testing.

Contact:
Global Business Support Systems, Inc. DBA TestCountry
9520 Chesapeake Drive, Ste 601
San Diego, CA 92123

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Ocimum Biosolutions today unveiled its Biobanking Stimulus Package by offering its complete Biotracker^TM Biobanking Solution for $75,000 (applicable in US and Canada). A similar Stimulus Package is also available for European countries for €58,000. The Biobanking Stimulus Package includes Ocimum’s world-class Biotracker^TM for Biobanking software, Implementation, Training, and the First year of Support & Maintenance. The package is offered at a fixed price with guaranteed on-time delivery.

“In today’s challenging economic environment, research organizations are being called upon to improve their effectiveness and efficiency like never before. Ocimum feels that in order to meet this goal automation of critical research functions is the answer. At the same time, securing large capital budgets to enable automation is increasingly also a challenge. The result is that research organizations cannot afford not to automate their operations but often cannot afford the solutions that makes this feasible,” explained Anuradha Acharya, CEO of Ocimum Biosolutions. “At Ocimum Biosolutions, your needs have always driven our priorities and we feel that by offering our special Biobanking Stimulus Package, we will be able to significantly assist research organizations overcome these challenges and flourish.”

Biotracker’s™ Biobanking solution manages the collection, storage, processing and distribution of biological materials as well as the association of critical demographic data, clinical data, and biomarkers to these biospecimens. Biotracker™ for Biobanking maintains biospecimen genealogy with the ability to perform DNA/RNA extractions and also includes management of TMAs, CMA and LCM. Biotracker^TM is HIPAA, CLIA, HL7 and caBIG compliant.

The Biotracker^TM Biobanking solution also includes a web-based requester module and can support a “virtual” Biobanking network where there may be many sites or locations as well as collaborators. For organizations employing Biobanking in support of clinical trials and biomarker characterization, Biotracker has configurable Clinical Study Management attributes.

“At its simplest level software employed at Biobanks will show the location of biospecimens. Most organizations, however, want to go beyond this and be able to search within the Meta data, because it’s this annotated information that gives intrinsic value to the biospecimens. A lot of the information must be integrated in such a way as to remove any aspect of typographical errors”, said Dr. Howard Rosenberg, Executive Director – LIMS of Ocimum Biosolutions. “Biotracker supports Controlled Vocabulary (SNOMED, WHO, caBIG Thesaurus) so that queries for available biospecimens will return all of the collection by diagnosis, disease type, etc. This as well as many other unique capabilities makes the Biotracker Biobanking solution the most complete on the market today.”

More information about the Biotracker Biobanking solution and the Biobanking Stimulus package is available at http://www.ocimumbio.com/75k.

About Ocimum Biosolutions

Ocimum Biosolutions is a leading integrated genomics company providing comprehensive genomic reference databases, life science lab information management solutions, GLP-compliant microarray services and essential research consumables. Over 2/3rd of the top 25 pharma companies, leading research institutes and emerging biotech companies worldwide have chosen us as their preferred outsourcing partner and utilize our expertise for understanding underlying mechanisms of diseases, discovery and prioritization of gene targets and biomarkers.

We are a preferred outsourcing partner for providing integrated biorepository and genomic services for several global pharmaceutical companies. Our global infrastructure, standardized procedures, capacity, expertise and highly skilled staff support drug development programs from pre-clinical target development and toxicogenomic assessment to clinical biomarker identification and patient stratification. In creating the world’s largest commercial gene expression databases – BioExpress® and ToxExpress®, we have developed expertise and capabilities that are unparalleled in the genomic services industry. Our specialty LIMS solution, Biotracker™ caters to the growing needs of core labs in global companies and research centers involved in Life Science Research. We provide multiple GLP-compliant platforms for gene expression and SNP genotyping data generation. We also provide full biorepository and genomic services support for the Genetic Alliance, which is an umbrella organization representing ~600 genetic advocacy groups. Besides providing the physical infrastructure for storing thousands of biological samples, we provide services to assist sample accrual, IRB approvals, CRO training, sample collection, clinical data capture and management.

For more information, please visit http://www.ocimumbio.com

Contact person

For media and investment related appointments, please contact:

Ms. Nazia Sultana

Phone: +91-40-66627200

E-mail: [email protected]