Meridian to distribute bowel disease test in Italy

Meridian Bioscience says it will distribute test made by Buhlmann Laboratories in Italy

• On 4:42 pm EDT, Wednesday September 30, 2009

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Meridian Bioscience Inc. said Wednesday its European business will distribute a test that helps determine the difference between inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

Meridian Bioscience Europe will distribute the test in Italy under the agreement with Buhlmann Laboratories AG of Switzerland, which makes the test. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Quantum Blue Calprotectin test detects levels of calprotectin, which is found at high levels in people with inflammatory bowel disease but not people with irritable bowel syndrome, Meridian said. The company said the test will help avoid unnecessary colonoscopies.

Meridian estimated that about two million Europeans have irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, while around 30 million have inflammatory bowel disease.