Bio-Rad India, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Bio-Rad Laboratories USA aims to consolidate and strengthen its presence in the country with its application-oriented technology support. This is primarily because the present business environment supports growth of bio-services on account of the contract and clinical research development in India.

With the clinical diagnostics and life sciences research market on an upswing , Bio-Rad with its presence in niche segments of diabetes (HbA1c), genetic tests (Thalassemia) and infectious diseases is gearing up to capitalize on the opportunities in the country, Dhiren Wagle, country manger, Bio-Rad Laboratories (India) Pvt. Ltd. told Pharmabiz.

Its parent company Bio-Rad Laboratories headquartered in California is a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research products and clinical diagnostics serving over 70,000 research and industry customers globally through a network of more than 30 wholly owned subsidiary offices. The company is among the few to supply a range of assays, instrumentation and software to meet the screening and diagnostic systems to clinical labs and blood banks. Its expertise was given a fillip after the acquisition of Pasteur sanofi Diagnostics, one of the world's HIV/AIDS pioneers and a collaborative partnership with Institut Pasteur, which ensured long-term supply of novel blood virus diagnostic assays.

The company's forte in clinical diagnostics is in mainly in quality control covering data management solutions. In diabetes it has the expertise to determine haemoglobin A1C under infectious diseases tests. It has the latest and advanced diagnostic option with sensitive and specific assays for HIV-1 and HIV-2; Hepatitis A, B and C; syphilis and CMV (Cytomegalovirus).In Genetic Disorders Testing, Variant II system for Thalassemia and new born screening techniques are among the key products for the Indian market.

In the area of life sciences research, Bio-Rad's expertise is in protein chromatography with specialized solutions for bio-pharmaceuticals and research sector in vaccine development.

According to Wagle, with the healthcare sector on a growth trajectory, there is immense progress towards adherence of quality parameters resulting in massive accreditation exercises by the laboratories. This make-up for the potential opportunities for Bio-Rad in the country. The size of the clinical diagnostics market is estimated to be $300 million (Rs 12,000 crore) and growing at 15-20 per cent per annum. The prevailing trend shows an increased focus towards biochemistry, haematology and immunology and molecular diagnostics.

A major problem in the country today is the import duty of 38 to 40 per cent, which makes the product expensive. If the Union government provides the much-needed relief to such products, which is a critical component in a life saving exercise during an impending disease threat, then the waiver on customs duty benefit could be passed on to the customers, stated Wagle.