Collaboration to Improve Millions of Lives in Rural Regions and
Significantly Expand China's Newborn Screening
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
PerkinElmer,
Inc., (NYSE: PKI), a global leader focused on the health and safety
of people and the environment, today announced an agreement to serve as
the exclusive collaborator with China's National Health and Family
Planning Commission (NHFPC) in developing and implementing an extensive
three-year newborn screening training program focused on early detection
of life-threatening disorders in an effort to improve millions of lives
across rural China.
This project, which is expected to substantially increase adoption and
access to newborn screening in China, will leverage PerkinElmer's
innovative diagnostics technologies and expertise in setting up and
rolling out comprehensive newborn screening programs in rural areas.
PerkinElmer will help to train more than 3,000 doctors, clinicians and
laboratory technicians across 600 rural counties in sample collection,
clinical diagnostics and treatment, as well as site inspection and
overall program management. PerkinElmer screened more than 9 million
babies in China last year.
PerkinElmer will work closely with the National Maternal & Children
Health Surveillance Office (NMCHSO), the program's administrator, to
implement this health program.
"We are excited to work closely with PerkinElmer to administer this
important initiative of the NHFPC that will impact the lives of so many
newborn babies," said, Jun Zhu, Director of NMCHSO. "PerkinElmer's
provision of diagnostics technology, along with education and training
for our clinicians and professionals on newborn screening procedures and
best practices, are vital to the success of this program rollout."
The program will leverage PerkinElmer's diagnostics offerings to
identify disorders in newborn babies, including a thyroid stimulating
hormone (TSH) test, which is used to detect congenital hypothyroidism,
an often overlooked condition that can lead to mental retardation. In
addition, the program will offer a test for phenylketonuria (PKU), a
condition in which a baby is born without the ability to properly
utilize a component of proteins called phenylalanine, which can damage
the central nervous system and the brain.
"As birth rates continue to rise in China and demand for greater access
to newborn screening in rural areas increases, PerkinElmer is responding
with the advanced detection technologies, knowledge and infrastructure
that can help the NHFPC achieve better outcomes," said Jim Corbett,
President, Human Health, PerkinElmer. "We have a long history of success
in developing similar programs in other emerging markets, and this
latest collaboration in China is a great example of how we are making a
difference by providing technology, information and insights to improve
human health in regions that have such critical needs for these
capabilities."
About PerkinElmer, Inc.
PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global leader focused on improving the health and
safety of people and the environment. The Company reported revenue of
approximately $2.2 billion in 2013, has about 7,600 employees serving
customers in more than 150 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500
Index. Additional information is available through 1-877-PKI-NYSE, or at http://www.perkinelmer.com.
APCO Worldwide
Jesse Steinberg, +1-646-556-9324
jsteinberg@apcoworldwide.com
Source: PerkinElmer, Inc.
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