| CONTACTS: |
César García,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
|
818-709-1244
|
|
-or-
|
|
Ron Stabiner, The Wall Street Group, Inc. |
|
212-888-4848 |
CHATSWORTH, Calif., Apr 10, 2008 - Iris Diagnostics, a division of IRIS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NASDAQ GM: IRIS)
a leading manufacturer of urinalysis systems and consumables for use in hospitals and commercial laboratories worldwide, today announced that it was awarded the 2007 Omega
NorthFace ScoreBoard AwardSM. The award program, now in its eighth year, is presented by the Omega Management Group, a leader in implementing customer satisfaction and
retention programs, to companies who achieved excellence in customer satisfaction during the prior calendar year.
Omega's methodology measures customer satisfaction and loyalty levels for all clients on a 5-point scale at least twice during the year in
such categories as technical support, field service, customer service and account management. Award recipients are companies who, based on independent survey results from
customers, consistently achieved at least 4.0 in every category measured out of a possible score of 5.0.
"We are proud and honored to be recognized by our customers and having achieved the Omega standards for this award," stated Thomas
Warekois, President of Iris Diagnostics. "This award clearly demonstrates the commitment and dedication of our employees across the total Iris experience ranging from
product design, quality and reliability and particularly customer service and field support groups."
"We basically listened to our customers," added Dave Baker, Vice President, Global Customer Service of Iris Diagnostics. "We
implemented a number of monthly surveys that provided feedback on the various aspects of our service and support and the feedback we received was instrumental in tailoring our
programs to address specific areas in our customer service programs."
Omega will formally present the award during ceremonies on May 15 at its SCORE Conference 2008, being held at the Boston World Trade Center from
May 13-15. This conference is the only event in its industry that explores best practices in developing a loyalty management strategy as well as incorporating such a program
within an organization's many customer-facing operations. Hundreds of service, support, sales, marketing and human resources executives from the country's leading firms
attend each year.
ABOUT OMEGA
Since 1984, the Omega Management Group Corp. has been a recognized expert in developing and implementing customer and employee management strategy (CEM)
programs that lead to increased product and service revenue and profits. Services include customer and employee surveys, employee incentive programs, benchmark research and
analysis, consulting, key account retention strategies, win-back strategies and marketing of customer satisfaction results to employees, customers and the marketplace.
THE COMPANY
IRIS International, Inc. (www.proiris.com), based in Chatsworth, Calif., is a leading developer,
manufacturer, and marketer of medical devices, diagnostic systems and consumables. The Iris Diagnostics Division (www.irisdiagnostics.com)
is a leader in automated urinalysis technology with systems in major medical institutions throughout the world. Iris Molecular Diagnostics develops innovative ultra-sensitive
diagnostics and sample processing products with applications in the urinalysis, oncology and infectious disease markets. 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.
SAFE HARBOR PROVISION
This press 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, regulatory
developments, 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; obtaining regulatory approvals for new and enhanced products; 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.
