CHATSWORTH, Calif., June 18, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IRIS International, Inc. (Nasdaq:IRIS), a leading manufacturer of urinalysis systems and consumables for use in hospitals and commercial laboratories worldwide, announced today that it is the winner of the fourth annual Supplier Pinnacle Award presented by Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, the group purchasing unit of the Premier healthcare alliance.
"We are delighted to be honored by Premier for the second year in a row for exceeding performance expectations, and we are particularly proud for the first time to be among Premier's prestigious Pinnacle Award recipients, an honor bestowed on an elite group of 20 companies, out of approximately 800 suppliers with whom Premier contracts," stated Thomas Warekois, President of the Iris Diagnostics Division, and Corporate Vice President.
Winners are recognized for their outstanding management of Premier agreements and drive toward the mutual goal of providing clinical and financial value to the not-for-profit hospitals that are members of the Premier alliance. Premier's Pinnacle Award is intended to reward Premier's contracted suppliers that support attainment of mutual goals, drive contract utilization and are committed to performance improvement.
Mr. Warekois accepted the award at the 2009 Premier Annual Breakthroughs Conference & Exhibition in Anaheim, Calif. The award ceremony was held at The Anaheim Convention Center on Wednesday, June 17.
"Premier is pleased to recognize our top performing suppliers with the Pinnacle Award, which honors our valued suppliers that strive for collaboration and performance excellence to the benefit of the alliance," said Premier Purchasing Partners President Mike Alkire.
"We thank Premier for this recognition, which is a reflection of the value and commitment that the Iris team places on collaborating with Premier in consistently providing the best possible urinalysis products and service, while delivering improved health care at lower cost to Premier's members and customers," Mr. Warekois said.
About Premier Inc.
The Premier healthcare alliance is more than 2,100 U.S. hospitals and 58,000-plus other healthcare sites working together to improve healthcare quality and affordability. Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier works with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Premier has offices in San Diego, Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Washington.
About IRIS International, Inc.
IRIS International is a leading global in vitro diagnostics company focused on products that analyze particles and living cell forms and structures, or morphology of a variety of body fluids. The Company's products leverage its strengths in flow imaging technology, particle recognition and automation to bring efficiency to hospital and commercial laboratories. The initial applications for its technology have been in the urinalysis market and the Company is the leading worldwide provider of automated urine microscopy and chemistry systems, with an installed base of more than 2,230 systems in more than 50 countries. The Company is expanding its core imaging and morphology expertise into related markets and is developing applications in hematology and urinary tract infections. In addition, the Company is developing molecular diagnostic tests based on its Nucleic Acid Detection Immunoassay, or NADiA(r), platform, with applications in oncology and infectious disease. For more information visit www.proiris.com.