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The acquisition is strategically aligned with Quest’s growth objectives. Credit: MIND AND I / Shutterstock

Quest Diagnostics has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Canada-based laboratory tests provider LifeLabs from pension fund company OMERS, in a deal valued at approximately C$1.35bn ($985m), including net debt.

The acquisition will see LifeLabs retain its Canadian headquarters, brand, and management team while benefiting from Quest’s expertise and resources.

Quest aims to bolster LifeLabs’ services with new technologies and resources.

The company also expects to help accelerate the data security enhancements of LifeLabs.

LifeLabs president and CEO Charles Brown said: “Quest is the right partner to build on the strengths of LifeLabs and align with our strategic path, which focuses on enhancing the accessibility and quality of services that we provide to millions of Canadians. 

The acquisition of LifeLabs’s equity is strategically aligned with Quest’s growth objectives, with the deal expected to generate around C$970m ($710m) in annual revenues.

Subject to customary closing conditions and Canadian regulatory approvals, the transaction is planned to be completed at the end of this year. 

Abbott has announced a voluntary medical device correction for a limited number of FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors in the US. 

The voluntary correction is intended for the sensors distributed in the first half of May 2024. This is due to the possibility that some of them will provide incorrect high glucose readings.

The FreeStyle Libre 3 system includes a sensor, reader, and app. The correction impacts only the sensor component.

Abbott’s internal testing identified that sensors from three specific lots might give inaccurate readings, potentially leading to inappropriate treatment decisions for individuals with diabetes.

The sensor lots considered for correction include T60001948, T60001966, and T60001969. 

To determine if a sensor is from an affected lot, users can find the lot and serial number on the bottom of the sensor’s packaging or within the FreeStyle Libre 3 app or reader if the sensor is already in use. 

23andMe has partnered with Finland-based biomarker testing and risk prediction company Nightingale Health to trial a blood metabolomics panel with a cohort of its premium members.

The companies will offer 5,000 of 23andMe’s premium members a chance to receive blood testing through Nightingale’s Remote Health Check.

The pilot will evaluate customers’ feedback on the blood panel services, at-home sample collection, and the utility of the data when combined with 23andMe’s genetics channels.

The Nightingale’s blood panel can test different biomarkers, including cholesterols, apolipoproteins and fatty acids such as Omega-3. The results can then be used to inform the presence of diseases and lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise. The blood test results could also be used to improve the accuracy of the lifetime risk of disease prediction technology offered by 23andMe as part of its annual membership. 

The first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system of its kind in the UK, which is set to aid in the identification of new ways to assess the risk of heart disease, has been installed at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital.

Royal Brompton Hospital is the UK’s largest specialist heart and lung medical centre and is managed by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Developed by Siemens Healthineers, MAGNETOM Cima.X’s gradient strength will facilitate novel heart scanning techniques intended to enable the earlier treatment and prevention of heart disease.

Using diffusion-weighted imaging, the MRI system defines the micro-architecture of the heart in three-dimensions at a microscopic level, an evolution that is anticipated to help identify new ways to assess the risk of heart attacks, congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathy.

Royal Brompton has already undertaken a research program using diffusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), a technique that reveals the arrangement of heart cells and depicts the full architecture of the heart muscle. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the Medical Devices Information System (MeDevIS), an open-access online platform to streamline global access to medical technologies and devices.

The offering encompasses 2,301 medical device types for a wide array of health issues, including reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, as well as non-communicable and infectious diseases such as Covid-19.

With more than 10,000 different medical devices globally, ranging from simple tools to complex technologies such as cardiac stents and radiotherapy equipment, the platform aims to consolidate information and simplify decision-making.

The current landscape features disparate sources of information from various international organisations and regulatory bodies, which can be challenging for users to navigate.

MeDevIS addresses this by offering a single, comprehensive database where users can find details about medical devices, including their type, required healthcare system level, scope, and necessary infrastructure.