Now outgrown the BSIR size standrd of 500 employees, R&D Systems is a specialty manufacturer of biological products with two operating divisions: Biotechnology and Hematology. The Biotechnology Division serves the basic research, clinical research, and clinical diagnostic markets with cytokine-related products for cancer, development, endocrinology, immunology, neuroscience, proteases, and stem cell research. The Hematology Division ranks among the world's leading developers and manufacturers of hematology analyzer controls, calibrators, and kits for verifying linearity and reportable range. The firm provide products and services to a broad range of customers worldwide--from academic and government research institutions; biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies; as well as hospitals, reference laboratories, and blood banks that perform patient testing and monitoring for quality control. In July 2005, R&D Systems, Inc. announced its purchase of Fortron Bio Science, Inc. (Morrisville, NC) and BiosPacific, Inc. (Emeryville, CA). Fortron develops and manufactures monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and purified antigens. BiosPacific is the primary distribution arm of Fortron, and is a leading OEM supplier of biological reagents to the worldwide clinical diagnostics market. Fortron and BiosPacific have operated this strategic partnership since 1992, combining Fortron's development and manufacturing excellence with BiosPacific's marketing and sales expertise. Fortron and BiosPacific have earned a reputation as suppliers of high quality reagents and have established themselves as key vendors to many of the leading manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic systems, used globally in both clinical laboratory and point-of-care testing for evidence of cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, and drugs of abuse.
