| CONTACTS: |
César García, President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
818-709-1244 x 7123
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|
Or
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|
Ron Stabiner, The Wall Street Group, Inc. |
|
212-888-4848 |
CHATSWORTH, Calif., Jan. 08, 2007
— IRIS International, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRIS)
today announced that the Iris Diagnostics division has entered into a sales and service supply agreement with the General Purchasing Organization (GPO) of the
Sisters of Mercy Health System in St. Louis, Mo., the 9th largest Catholic healthcare system in the United States.
The agreement is for two years, beginning Dec. 1, 2006, with two optional extension years after Nov. 30, 2008. Under the terms of
the agreement, the Iris Diagnostics division will supply to the Sisters of Mercy Health System's GPO its iQ®200 Series units, the iQ®
Body Fluids Module, its AX-4280 Automated Urine Chemistry Analyzer units, its iChem100 Urine Chemistry test strips, and all consumables and supplies, to be
complemented with annual service agreements and training.
"This is a comprehensive supply agreement for sales and services to the Sisters of Mercy affiliated hospitals. We are pleased
with the opportunity to serve them and expect to develop a very strong relationship with this significant regional group," stated IRIS President and Chief
Executive Officer César García. "Our promotional activities will begin immediately and we will work closely with the GPO to ensure the high quality
of our products results in better patient care and lower costs. We are pleased to deliver a cost-effective, comprehensive series of fluid analysis solutions to this
large and robust healthcare system."
Mr. García continued, "This is one of the multi-site agreements anticipated in providing our financial guidance for 2006.
When combined with our recent LabCorp agreement, the order represents a significant step forward for the Company in targeting higher volume hospital and clinical
reference labs as part of our new market segmentation initiative. We expect to deliver all systems in the fourth quarter of 2006 and first quarter of 2007."
ABOUT THE SISTERS OF MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM
Headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., the Sisters of Mercy Health System consists of 18 acute care hospitals, a heart hospital,
outpatient care facilities, physician practices, skilled nursing and long term residential care facilities, clinics, a managed care organization and other health
related services. The System operates in an area that encompasses Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
ABOUT IRIS
IRIS International, Inc. (http://www.proiris.com), based in Chatsworth, Calif.,
is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices, diagnostics systems and consumables. The Company's IRIS Diagnostics division
(www.irisdiagnostics.com) is a leader in automated urinalysis technology with systems in major medical
institutions throughout the world.The Company's Sample Processing business unit (formerly the StatSpin® subsidiary) (www.statspin.com),
based in Westwood, Mass., manufactures innovative centrifuges and blood analysis products. Advanced Digital Imaging Research, LLC (ADIR) (www.adires.com),
based near Houston, Texas, is the Company's imaging research and development subsidiary. The IRIS Molecular Diagnostics (IMD) Subsidiary develops innovative
ultra-sensitive diagnostics and sample processing products with applications in the urinalysis, oncology and infectious disease markets.
SAFE HARBOR PROVISION
This news release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's views on future financial performance, market growth,
capital requirements, new product introductions and acquisitions, and are generally identified by phrases such as "thinks," "anticipates,"
"believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," and similar words. Forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statement. These statements are based upon, among other things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management, including
management's own knowledge and assessment of the Company's industry, R&D initiatives, competition and capital requirements. Other factors and
uncertainties that could affect the Company's forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: identification of feasible new product
initiatives, management of R&D efforts and the resulting successful development of new products and product platforms; acceptance by customers of the Company's
products; integration of acquired businesses; substantial expansion of international sales; reliance on key suppliers; the potential need for changes in long-term
strategy in response to future developments; future advances in diagnostic testing methods and procedures; potential changes in government regulations and healthcare
policies, both of which could adversely affect the economics of the diagnostic testing procedures automated by the Company's products; rapid technological change in
the microelectronics and software industries; and competitive factors, including pricing pressures and the introduction by others of new products with similar or better
functionality than our products. These and other risks are more fully described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which should be read in conjunction herewith for a further discussion of
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.