CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 4, 2009-- Meridian Bioscience (NASDAQ: VIVO) today announced that it is a recipient of a 2009 GHX Best in Class Award for achieving the highest year-over-year market share growth for distributed products in the Microbiology Reagents/Supplies product category for the 2008 calendar year.

Meridian Bioscience was among the 30 leading medical-surgical product manufacturers recognized by GHX in five market segments and 35 product categories, ranging from cardiovascular devices to skin-care products. Winners were determined using GHX Market intelligence reports that analyze national distributed sales transaction data.

Todd Motto, Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Meridian Bioscience stated, “We are extremely grateful to GHX for recognizing Meridian Bioscience with this award. Our market share gains are indicative of the value our customers place in our high quality products. It is clear that labs across the United States and in international markets recognize the value our products can deliver to the overall healthcare system through accurate diagnostic information that can aide treatment decisions and therefore reduce overall costs. That benefit could not be more meaningful in today’s economic climate.”

“We are extremely pleased to honor Meridian Bioscience for its leadership position in the Microbiology Reagents/Supplies product category,” said Ed McCauley, general manager, GHX Market Intelligence. “Despite the down economy, Meridian Bioscience grew 19.97 percent in 2008, while the overall market segment grew 7.86 percent.”

With information provided by 27 of the nation’s leading distributors, GHX Market Intelligence tracks and reports on more than $34 billion of distributed sales for medical-surgical and clinical laboratory supplies and devices. It is the only comprehensive source for accurate, detailed and timely data for the acute and alternate site healthcare markets, containing geographically relevant and competitive market share, size and average selling price reporting down to the three-digit ZIP code level.

Meridian Bioscience is a fully integrated life science company that manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic test kits, purified reagents and related products and offers biopharmaceutical enabling technologies. Utilizing a variety of methods, these products and diagnostic tests provide accuracy, simplicity and speed in the early diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, such as gastrointestinal, viral and respiratory infections. Meridian’s diagnostic products are used outside of the human body and require little or no special equipment. The Company's products are designed to enhance patient well-being while reducing the total outcome costs of healthcare. Meridian has strong market positions in the areas of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections, serology, parasitology and fungal disease diagnosis. In addition, Meridian is a supplier of rare reagents, specialty biologicals and related technologies used by biopharmaceutical companies engaged in research for new drugs and vaccines. The Company markets its products and technologies to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, veterinary testing centers, physician offices, diagnostics manufacturers and biotech companies in more than 60 countries around the world. The Company’s shares are traded through NASDAQ’s Global Select Market, symbol VIVO. Meridian's website address is www.meridianbioscience.com.

About GHX

As the business hub for healthcare, GHX enables healthcare providers and suppliers in North America and Europe to reduce costs and improve margins by automating processes, reducing operating expenses and increasing knowledge-based decision making. Products and services include trading partner connectivity, order and contract management and validation, data synchronization, sales force automation and business intelligence. Equity owners of GHX are Abbott Exchange, Inc.; AmerisourceBergen Corp.; Baxter Healthcare Corp.; B Braun Medical Inc.; Becton, Dickinson & Co.; Boston Scientific Corp.; Cardinal Health, Inc.; Covidien; C.R. Bard, Inc.; Fisher Scientific International, Inc.; GE Healthcare; HCA; Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.; McKesson Corp.; Medtronic USA, Inc.; Owens & Minor; Premier, Inc.; Siemens; University HealthSystem Consortium; and VHA Inc. For more information, visit www.ghx.com.

Source: Meridian Bioscience

Meridian Bioscience
John A. Kraeutler, Chief Executive Officer, 513-271-3700