Bayer Corporation has signed an agreement for its Diagnostics Division with Novation, the supply company for more than 2,300 members and affiliates of VHA Inc and University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), and more than 5,400 members of HealthCare Purchasing Partners International (HPPI), to offer members the company's immunoassay products. This agreement includes the ADVIA Centaur and ACS:180 SE immunoassay systems. The three-year contract is effective July 1, 2002.

"VHA and UHC members have been strong supporters of our company's broad product offering," said Gerald B. Rosenberg, vice president and general manager, Bayer Diagnostics North American Operations. "We are currently working with many member organizations, and are confident that these relationships have contributed to the award decision process. Our loyal customers know us for our quality products and strong service support. Today's announcement demonstrates the confidence Novation and its VHA and UHC members have in Bayer and strengthens our ability to offer customers a quality choice when making a decision for their immunoassay needs."

Novation uses a comprehensive, member-driven contracting process to award its product agreements. Award decision criteria give weight to product specifications as well as product value and quality factors. As a part of its selection process, Novation conducted surveys of its membership. In one survey, the responses demonstrated that service and technical support were the most important factors when making the decision to acquire immunoassay instrumentation.

A survey conducted in 2001 by the Ùmega Management Group Corporation showed that four out of five customers surveyed rated Bayer's overall service experience as above or exceeded expectations. Novation awarded the agreement for immunoassay and automation equipment, reagents and supplies to Bayer Diagnostics as part of a multi-vendor award.