Alere Inc Pref (ALR_pb)

Alere Inc. provides diagnostic tests for infectious disease, cardiometabolic disease, and toxicology in the United States and internationally. The company’s infectious disease products and services are used to detect influenza, group A streptococcus, respiratory syncytial virus, pneumonia, viral hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, gastrointestinal disease, syphilis, vector-borne, and other sexually transmitted diseases. It also offers indirect fluorescent antibodies; assays for viral, bacterial, and autoimmune diseases; serology diagnostic products; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA); and a line of automated instrumentation to process ELISA tests. The company’s cardiometabolic products and services include rapid diagnostic test systems to diagnose critical diseases, as well as to detect various drugs of abuse; point-of-care analyzers and test cassette systems to test blood glucose, cholesterol, and related lipids; over-the-counter tests for cholesterol monitoring; blood analysis systems for blood gas, electrolyte, and metabolite testing; point-of-care diabetes products; disposable/lateral flow rapid diagnostic tests for D-dimer and troponin; and data management systems for point-of-care testing. Its toxicology products and services include various device and reagent platforms to detect illicit and prescription drugs of abuse; tests to detect alcohol; drug testing products; and workplace drug and laboratory-based testing services. The company markets its diagnostic products through its sales and distribution networks, and First Check consumer drug testing and cholesterol monitoring products through retail drug/food stores, drug wholesalers, and mass merchandisers. Alere Inc. was formerly known as Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. and changed its name to Alere Inc. in July 2010. The company was founded in 1981 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of October 3, 2017, Alere Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories.