ANALYST: MARKET FOR MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS SHOULD BENEFIT BD

Becton Dickinson (BD) should find the market conducive to strong growth for its diagnostics products, according to at least one analyst.

"Our physician consultants are seeing a growing interest from community hospitals in adopting molecular diagnostic testing for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)," Jeffrey Frelick, Lazard Capital Markets vice president and diagnostic devices and laboratory equipment analyst, said in a Dec. 12 research note.

Laboratory technicians are seeking additional training in molecular diagnostics as hospitals become more focused on controlling infection rates, and are looking to incorporate MRSA testing using molecular diagnostics, Frelick said.

"We believe a rapid molecular diagnostic test for MRSA adds value to a screening program," Frelick said.

BD has a trial under way at 18 of the VA hospitals that, if successful, could include all 167 of those by the end of the 2007 calendar year, he noted.