BRAMPTON, ON, Dec. 12, 2011 /CNW/ -Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories announced today that it has acquired Warnex Medical Laboratories, a division of Warnex Inc. which provides specialized laboratory testing services to the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
Warnex Medical Laboratories provides specialized laboratory testing to hospitals, private laboratories and medical specialists and has extensive expertise in molecular diagnostics, pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine services. As a development-driven medical laboratory, Warnex Medical Laboratories focuses on developing innovative assays, and refining existing assays, to provide greater clinical value for reliable and cost-effective patient assessment and management.
"We welcome this opportunity to strengthen Gamma-Dynacare's position as a leading Canadian reference laboratory," said Naseem Somani, President and Chief Executive Officer, Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories. "Warnex Medical Laboratories brings to Gamma-Dynacare expanded capabilities in molecular medicine, oncology and companion diagnostics that will enhance our growth in the field of personalized medicine. In addition, the assay development expertise of Warnex Medical Laboratories will accelerate our ability to bring new, value-added laboratory tests to the Canadian marketplace."
Warnex Medical Laboratories' biochemistry services include the Prenatest® prenatal screening test - which combines a blood test with ultrasound imaging to assess the risk of Down syndrome and other fetal chromosomal abnormalities - and the PCA3 test for the detection of prostate cancer. The laboratory also performs a variety of microbiology, virology and serology tests using advanced techniques to provide data to diagnose and evaluate infectious diseases, such as the Influenza A H1N1 virus. Its molecular diagnostics services include DNA-oriented genetic predisposition and tracking tests in various fields of medicine, including oncology, endocrinology and hematology. Through its PRO-DNA Services subsidiary, Warnex Medical Laboratories is also a leading provider of DNA identification tests for forensic and parentage testing purposes.
Warnex Medical Laboratories operates within Warnex Inc's 44,000-square-foot laboratory facility in Laval, Quebec and a 6,000 square-foot facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Under the terms of the agreement, Gamma-Dynacare will assume the lease at the Thunder Bay facility and will sub-lease 7,500-square-feet of laboratory and office space at the Laval facility. Gamma-Dynacare will provide employment to all Warnex Medical Laboratories employees. Gamma-Dynacare plans to operate Warnex Medical Laboratories on a "status quo" basis, with no immediate changes to services or operations. Dr. Yvan Côté, currently the Vice-President and General Manager of Warnex Medical Laboratories and Warnex PRO-DNA Services, will be assuming a new role with Gamma-Dynacare and will continue to oversee day-to-day operations in Laval and Thunder Bay.
About Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories
Providing Information. Impacting Lives. Caring for People. By living this mission, Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories will achieve its vision of becoming the trusted leader in transforming laboratory information and services into solutions that improve health, wellness and the Canadian health care system.
Gamma-Dynacare (www.gamma-dynacare.com) is one of Canada's largest and most respected providers of laboratory services and solutions, with more than 50 years of experience serving Canadians. Headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, Gamma-Dynacare operates four laboratories in Ontario (Brampton, London, Ottawa and Bowmanville), one in Montreal and three in Winnipeg. In addition, Gamma-Dynacare operates more than 200 Patient Services Centres in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Gamma-Dynacare's 2,000 skilled and dedicated employees perform millions of tests each year, playing a key role in the prevention and diagnosis of disease and the treatment of patients.