Transaction Expands Flow Cytometry Line, Targets Routine Clinical Analyses

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has acquired Blue Ocean Biomedical, LLC, a Pembroke Pines, Florida-based manufacturer of automated flow cytometry systems and reagents. The transaction provides Beckman Coulter Life Sciences with low complexity analyzers that integrate automated sample preparation and directly address emerging flow cytometry market trends.

Driving growth through internal product development and through acquisition of differentiated businesses and technologies is a core strategy for Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. Blue Ocean Biomedical products complement the company’s cytometry portfolio with instruments based on a “sample in, result out” (SIRO) approach that represents a fundamental change in the routine clinical analysis sector.

“This acquisition provides both immediate opportunity and long-term value,” said Scott Atkin, president, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. “The simplification of customer workflows will be dramatic. We’ll be able to offer customers an extended line of market leading technology while expanding our reach within a key segment for flow cytometry.”

Blue Ocean Biomedical products provide the first true integration of sample preparation, handling, analysis and data management, and the only SIRO solution for clinical flow cytometry, and will enable Beckman Coulter Life Sciences to deliver an expanding portfolio of clinical testing to a broader global market.

“Our team has developed a line of truly unique instrument systems: essentially, the world’s first ‘load & go™’ flow cytometers,” said Mike Brochu, CEO and co-founder of Blue Ocean Biomedical. “With its history of leadership and innovation in this field, Beckman Coulter has all the resources and technology needed to build on this platform and future systems for years to come.”

The systems and reagents are currently not available in the U.S.; for distribution in the European Union only.