27 May 2010 --- The Berlin-based diagnostics company ifp Institut für Produktqualität has sold its molecular biological, PCR-based food test product line to QIAGEN at a price not revealed. QIAGEN has purchased all the required patents and licences and will immediately begin to market and distribute the newly acquired portfolio of 70 molecular biological tests. With the support of this powerful and experienced partner in food diagnostics ifp can now make available its expertise in food analytics globally.

As an independent business, ifp will continue to produce the test kits in Berlin. Some first test kits will be available as early as the 4th quarter of 2010. At first test kits mainly for the detection of pathogens will be supplied to QIAGEN. Until 2012 the portfolio will then be complete, encompassing the full range of 70 tests.

“With QIAGEN we have gained the market leader in PCR technology. In future, diagnostics - from extraction over test kits right up to the instruments - will be available from one source,” says Dr. Wolfgang Weber, Managing Director of ifp. “ifp test kits will become part of a  PCR–based package of standardized  products that are perfectly tailored to each other. QIAGEN will be offering these to clients who need to perform food analyses.”

Due to the rapid growth of the food safety testing market with its estimated volume of more than 2 billion US dollars and because of the steadily growing demand resulting from increased customer awareness and statutory regulations, both QIAGEN and ifp were interested in extensive cooperation.

Increasing requirements are confronting food manufacturers with ever more complex sample material, the analysis of which is becoming increasingly difficult. The more reliable and faster results of molecular tests based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction) are superseding traditional procedures that use bacterial cultures and ELISA tests.This provides certainty within only 24 hours about the food product’s safety and its supply. PCR technology is supported by renowned manufacturers from the food industry.

“The quality of their assays and their manufacturing expertise make ifp an ideal partner for us”, says Dr. Sandra Luley, Global Marketing Manager for Applied Testing. "Their testing technologies excellently complement our package solutions from the sample to the result, as well as our existing overall product portfolio in the field of test methods.