EKF acquires STI

EKF Diagnostics, a global in vitro diagnostics business, has acquired Separation Technology Inc (STI), a Florida-based manufacturer of in vitro diagnostics devices for haematology testing. The small company employs 15 staff and is being sold by Thermo Fisher Scientific.

STI develops, manufactures and markets specialty IVD devices for the haematology testing market, including ultrasound instruments and tabletop centrifuges, and also has an in-house engineering capability. The company has sought to expand its offering into markets outside of the US, and has recently registered products in Brazil, Kazakhstan, Russia and Thailand.

STI’s UltraCrit device is said to be the only haematocrit/haemoglobin device to use ultrasound technology. The haematocrit reading is displayed automatically in about 30 seconds and provides a haematocrit value that allows for standardisation for all collections, including whole blood, apheresis and double red cell collections.

Julian Baines, CEO of EKF, said: “The acquisition of STI is a great natural fit with our existing point-of-care business, and UltraCrit provides us with a leading product for measuring haematocrit during blood donor screening, with huge potential both within the US and internationally.”

EKF Diagnostics has an installed base of over 50,000 analysers globally and manufactures nearly 50 million tests annually. The acquisition of STI is said to complement EKF’s existing offering in the haemoglobin testing marketplace.