Immucor Announces CE Mark in Europe for NEO Iris™; Next Generation, Fully Automated Instrument for Transfusion Medicine

NORCROSS, Ga. and ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 24, 2016 -- (AABB BOOTH 823) -- Immucor, Inc., a global leader in transfusion and transplantation diagnostics, today announced that its next generation automated NEO^® instrument, NEO Iris^TM,  has been deemed to meet the essential requirements of all relevant European Medical Device Directives and is now CE marked  for use in Europe to best match donor-patient blood. NEO Iris underscores Immucor’s unprecedented decades-long commitment to safely and fully automate the broadest test menu for mid- to high-volume, high-throughput blood testing performed in hospitals, donor centers and clinical reference laboratories.

NEO Iris builds on Immucor’s scalable technology innovation and investments since 1998 to deliver exceptional performance, high productivity, remarkable flexibility and ease of use within transfusion medicine. More than 1,000 NEO instruments are already powering blood centers and labs around the world. Several laboratories in Europe have recently implemented 13 NEO Iris next-generation instruments into their lab environments to access:

• Performance - A broad test menu with high productivity for both donor and patient testing screens allows automation for up to 60 type and screens per hour;
  
  
• Productivity - Dynamic speed, workflow and resource handling support true continuous access to add samples (up to 224 at one time) or resources anytime;
  
  
• Flexibility - Remarkable flexibility for STAT priority functionality for every sample supports the way work flows within each unique lab environment; and
  
  
• Ease of Use - Enhanced reader module for clear, real-time results and easy on-screen verification now powered by a scientific-grade camera and a Microsoft Windows®-based, user-friendly touchscreen interface.

In the United Kingdom, National Health Services Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) recently installed eight NEO Iris instruments for secondary blood grouping; five of the instruments at Filton Blood Centre in Bristol, England; and three of the instruments at the Manchester Blood Centre, Manchester, England. “NEO Iris provides us a fully automated system, a move from the semi-automated system we have used,” says Bev Hirst, lead specialist-testing with NHSBTS in Manchester. “NEO Iris is preferable in our environment in many ways, both for ease of use, and also because every action on the analysers is fully auditable, which our regulators prefer. We are looking forward to collaborating closely with Immucor as we work towards the go live of the new analysers by the end of the year.”

Built-in Integration for Data Management and Support
Additionally, NEO Iris automatically integrates with Immucor’s comprehensive data management software solution, ImmuLINK®, to aggregate all serology and molecular IVD test results, generating a single report with a complete donor or patient testing history. NEO Iris also includes a bi-directional interface with blud_direct ^SM for 24/7 remote diagnostics and instrument support. 

“With NEO Iris, European laboratories can see blood test results faster and beyond previous operational limitations,” said Keith Chaitoff, Immucor’s chief marketing officer and vice president of international commercial operations. “When labs perform safer, faster throughputs for type and screens it means they can get the best matched blood to more patients who need it. Immucor understands that when patient care is on the line, every test result counts.”

NEO Iris is part of Immucor’s commitment to automation innovation that provides high-quality, high-performance and scalable solutions to meet the operational needs of all blood banks and labs, regardless of size or volume. Immucor's total solution extends beyond instrumentation to include serology, molecular, and platelet specialty products. NEO Iris has been CE marked for use in Europe. Clinical trials for NEO Iris are in progress in the United States.

NEO Iris at AABB
Immucor will showcase NEO Iris during AABB on October 24-26, 2016, in Orlando, Florida, at booth number 823. To preschedule a demonstration, Immucor clients may contact their blood bank business manager. For more information about NEO Iris or to learn the regulatory status in your country, please contact your local Immucor representative at [email protected] or visit www.immucor.com.

About NEO Iris
NEO Iris represents Immucor’s sixth generation instrument designed specifically to improve transfusion medicine-related workflow productivity, safety and testing flexibility within mid- to high -volume, high-throughput donor centers, clinical reference labs and hospitals.

NEO Iris customers benefit from the broadest, most comprehensive and personalized portfolio of solutions for transfusion medicine beyond innovative instrumentation to include serology, molecular, platelet specialty products, manual and automated reagents, robust data management, a single user interface to link to an LIS system, dedicated customer support, field service engineers, Lean-certified consulting services and an educational resource network. Find more information about NEO Iris email [email protected] or visit immucor.com to connect with the local Immucor representative in your country.

About Immucor
Founded in 1982, Immucor is a global leader in transfusion and transplantation diagnostics that facilitate patient-donor compatibility. Our mission is to ensure that patients in need of blood, organs or stem cells get the right match that is safe, accessible and affordable. With the right match, we can transform a life together. For more information on Immucor, visit www.immucor.com.

Contact: Michele Howard - 770.441.2051