Contact: Barbara Kalavik
BD Public Relations
(201) 847-4209
Email: barbara_kalavik@bd.com

Toronto -- Tuesday, May 22, 2007 -- 

BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), demonstrated today at the 107^th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology the BD Phoenixâ?¢ AP, an automated sample preparation instrument.

The BD Phoenix AP instrument is designed to augment the BD Phoenix^TM Automated Microbiology System, which is able to consistently identify more than 300 clinically relevant bacteria and assess the pathogensâ?? resistance and susceptibility to antibiotic treatments in less than 16 hours.

The growing shortage of highly skilled laboratory technicians over the last decade has resulted in the need for improved laboratory automation. The BD Phoenix AP instrument reduces hands-on time for upfront sample preparation and maximizes workflow productivity. In addition, the system provides automated inoculum standardization, which helps to minimize variability from technician to technician.

â??The speed, efficiency and standardization of the BD Phoenix AP instrument makes the BD Phoenix system attractive to both medium - and high-volume microbiology laboratories,â?? said David Panneton, Worldwide Vice President of Marketing, BD Diagnostics.

BD anticipates the commercial availability of the BD Phoenix AP instrument within the next 14 months.

About BD Phoenixâ?¢

The BD Phoenix system enables hospital laboratories to perform identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for identifying infectious organisms of human clinical significance and the antibiotics to which they are resistant and/or susceptible. Additional features include on-demand loading, single or batch processing, continuous monitoring and custom antibiotic panels, giving users flexibility to test as little as one organism, or as many as 100. The system provides a straightforward, logical, flexible system for users of all skill levels. The BD Phoenix systemâ??s efficient design reduces maintenance, saves technical hours and minimizes downtime. It also incorporates a state-of-the art, knowledge-based system, which creates less room for human error and results in better patient outcomes. Launched in 2001, the BD Phoenix system is utilized by more than 675 medical laboratories.

About BD

BD, a leading global medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents, is dedicated to improving peopleâ??s health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug therapy, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases, and advancing research and discovery of new drugs and vaccines. The Companyâ??s capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the worldâ??s most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 27,000 people in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.