Hospitals, Healthcare Providers to Save with Premier Agreements for Molecular Rapid...

Hospitals, Healthcare Providers to Save with Premier Agreements for Molecular Rapid Qualitative Screening

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(Business Wire)--
Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, has awarded new agreements for
molecular rapid qualitative screening products, reagents and services
to BD Diagnostics GeneOhm of San Diego and Cepheid Inc. of Sunnyvale,
Calif.

This 36-month debut portfolio, which includes new technology, was
effective May 1, 2008; it is available to acute care and continuum of
care members of the Premier healthcare alliance.

Molecular rapid qualitative screening products provide a
qualitative in vitro diagnostic test for direct detection of nasal
colonization by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to
aid in the prevention and control of the infection. The tests use
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the amplification of MRSA DNA and
fluorogenic target-specific hybridization probes for the detection of
the amplified DNA.

About Premier Inc., 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
recipient

Serving more than 2,000 U.S. hospitals and 50,000 other healthcare
sites, the Premier healthcare alliance and its members are
transforming healthcare together. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals,
Premier operates one of the leading healthcare purchasing networks and
the nation's most comprehensive repository of hospital clinical and
financial information. A subsidiary operates one of the nation's
largest policy-holder owned, hospital professional liability
risk-retention groups. A world leader in helping healthcare providers
deliver dramatic improvements in care, Premier is working with the
United Kingdom's National Health Service North West and the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services to improve hospital performance.
Headquartered in San Diego, Premier has offices in Charlotte, N.C.,
Philadelphia and Washington. For more information, visit
www.premierinc.com.

Premier Inc.
Henry Bostic, 704-733-5695
henry_bostic@premierinc.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008