Meridian Bioscience announced this week that the US Food and Drug Administration has cleared new claims for the firm's illumigene Pertussis molecular amplification test. The new claims include specimens collected by Copan Diagnostics' ESwab multitransport universal transport system. The FDA cleared the illumigene Pertussis test in March 2014.
 

Agilent Technologies said that its board of directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $.115 per share of common stock payable on Jan. 27, 2016, to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on Jan. 5, 2016.
 

Alere has completed the previously announced sale of its BBI business to UK-based Exponent Private Equity for $115 million, plus a potential $47 million in contingent payments. Alere said it would use the proceeds to pay down existing debt.