Becton Dickinson has signed a definitive agreement to acquire molecular diagnostics firm HandyLab for an undisclosed sum.

HandyLab sells the Jaguar molecular diagnostics system, which incorporates clinical sample preparation, nucleic acid extraction, microfluidic real-time PCR amplification and detection. The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based firm launched the system in November 2008.

BD said that it plans to place its BD GeneOhm assays for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus on the HandyLab platform and market them as the new BD Max system.

The acquisition follows an alliance between the firms begun earlier this year aimed at placing the GeneOhm tests on the Jaguar system.

"We believe this new platform enables both our healthcare-associated infections offering and future expansion into other molecular opportunities," BD President Vincent Forlenza said in a statement.

BD said that it will provide more information on the acquisition during its fiscal fourth-quarter conference call on Nov. 4.