AUSTIN, Texas, and CARDIFF, Wales, Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Luminex Corporation (LMNX) announced today that Public Health Wales is using Luminex's CE marked xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP) for outbreak investigation activities during Olympic and Paralympic training and events taking place in Wales. Results of a substantial diagnostic validation of the GPP test conducted by The Public Health Wales Microbiology laboratory team at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, are anticipated to be published in a peer reviewed journal.

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Luminex's xTAG GPP received CE mark in 2011 and is the most comprehensive test available to diagnose gastrointestinal infections. xTAG GPP simultaneously detects fifteen of the most common disease-causing pathogens, including viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, such as norovirus, C. difficile, toxigenic strains of E. coli, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, and Salmonella, all within 5-6 hours. Innovations in diagnostic technology like xTAG GPP provide the potential for rapid identification of the cause of outbreaks of gastrointestinal infection and improved patient care.

"We are very pleased with the performance of the assay to date in our validations comparing it to our traditional methods," said Michael Perry, Clinical Scientist within the National Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Public Health Wales. "The ability to generate answers during a single work shift for a majority of the pathogens involved in gastroenteritis, compared to traditional methods which would have taken 2 days in some cases and much more work to return the same amount of information, is a significant advance."

"Seeing the contribution of our technology innovations and ability to make a positive impact in public health makes us very proud," said Patrick J. Balthrop, president and CEO of Luminex. "We are pleased to work with thought leaders like the Molecular Laboratory team at Public Health Wales, Cardiff, who continue to advance healthcare and public safety."

About xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP)

xTAG GPP is a qualitative molecular multiplex diarrhea test intended for the simultaneous detection and identification of multiple gastrointestinal pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The assay uses the proprietary Luminex xTAG Technology and the xMAP Technology platform to detect multiple targets in a single sample. xTAG GPP can detect Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) such as C. difficile or norovirus, foodborne illness agents like E. coli or Salmonella and common pediatric diarrhea causatives such as Rotavirus.

More information on Luminex and xTAG GPP can be found at http://www.luminexcorp.com/gpp, or Luminex's European office at, Krombraak 13-15, 4906 CR Oosterhout, The Netherlands, +31.16.240.8333.

About Public Health Wales, Microbiology, Cardiff

Public Health Wales provides expert public health resources as part of the NHS in Wales. Public Health Wales Microbiology, Cardiff, is a clinical diagnostic and public health laboratory serving hospital inpatients, GP surgeries and communicable disease professionals throughout Cardiff and Vale NHS trust and is based at the University Hospital of Wales Cardiff. The laboratory comprises large clinical bacteriology and virology sections and includes the National Molecular Diagnostic Unit for Wales which provides extensive molecular diagnostic services along with collaborations to further infectious disease diagnosis. The University Hospital of Wales, (UHW) opened in November 1971, is a major 1000-bed hospital situated in the inner city district of Heath in Cardiff, Wales. UHW is the third largest University Hospital in the UK and the largest hospital in Wales, providing 24-hour Accident & Emergency and various other specialist departments.

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