Bio-Rad Laboratories

Bio-Rad Laboratories is a United States-based developer and manufacturer of specialized technologies for life science research and clinical diagnostics. Founded in Berkeley, California, in 1952 by married couple David and Alice Schwartz, the company began by serving scientific laboratories and gradually built a broad portfolio spanning research instruments, reagents, consumables, software, quality-control materials, and clinical diagnostic systems. It is headquartered in Hercules, California, and operates through subsidiaries, direct sales organizations, distributors, and agents in markets around the world. The company’s activities are commonly organized around two broad areas. Its Life Science segment supplies tools used to separate, purify, identify, measure, and amplify biological materials. These include products for cell biology, gene expression, protein purification and quantitation, nucleic-acid analysis, drug discovery and biomanufacturing, food safety, and science education. Bio-Rad’s portfolio includes laboratory automation, chromatography and electrophoresis systems, imaging equipment, antibodies, reagents, assay kits, consumables, and software. Its technologies are used by academic and government researchers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, food laboratories, and industrial quality-control organizations. Its Clinical Diagnostics business provides systems and reagents that generate information used in disease diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Major application areas include blood typing and transfusion medicine, diabetes testing, autoimmune disease testing, infectious-disease diagnostics, and quality-control products for clinical laboratories. The business serves hospitals, reference laboratories, blood banks, public-health facilities, and other healthcare organizations. Rather than operating primarily as a consumer-facing healthcare brand, Bio-Rad is principally an infrastructure and technology supplier whose products are used by laboratory professionals. Bio-Rad expanded through both internal development and acquisitions. The 1976 purchase of Environmental Chemical Specialties added human control-serum capabilities. In 1989, the company acquired the scientific-instrument business of Vickers, extending its historical laboratory-equipment activities. In the 2010s, Bio-Rad strengthened its molecular biology and antibody portfolios through the acquisition of AbD Serotec from MorphoSys in 2013 and its droplet-based digital PCR capabilities through the acquisition of RainDance Technologies in 2017. Droplet digital PCR became an important part of the company’s molecular-analysis offering because it enables highly sensitive measurement of rare genetic sequences and copy-number variation. Bio-Rad has also invested in scientific communication and education. Its Bioradiations publication began as a print magazine in 1965 and later became an online resource featuring application information, case studies, technical guidance, and research-related content. The publication supports the company’s role as a specialist supplier by helping laboratory users understand methods and applications associated with its products. The company’s history has also included significant compliance and governance challenges. Investigations into conduct by subsidiaries and acquired operations resulted in United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement actions concerning improper payments in Russia, Vietnam, and Thailand during the 2005–2010 period. Bio-Rad paid $55 million in 2017 to resolve related Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission matters. A connected whistleblower dispute involving former general counsel Sanford Wadler led to a jury award that was later reduced on appeal. These matters remain important parts of the company’s corporate history, alongside its continuing development of research and diagnostic platforms. Today, Bio-Rad remains an active, publicly traded specialist healthcare a…

Bio-Rad Laboratories was established in Berkeley, California, in 1952 by David Schwartz and Alice Schwartz, who had recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. The founders built the company around specialized products for scientific laboratories, a model that allowed Bio-Rad to serve research institutions while gradually expanding into clinical diagnostics. A major early expansion came in 1976, when Bio-Rad acquired Environmental Chemical Specialties, a producer of human control serum. This strengthened the company’s position in clinical laboratory quality control. In 1989, Bio-Rad acquired the non-defense instrument activities of British firm Vickers Instruments. Vickers had inherited a long tradition associated with Cooke, Troughton & Simms and earlier British scientific-instrument makers, giving Bio-Rad additional historical depth in laboratory equipment. Bio-Rad continued to broaden its product base across electrophoresis, chromatography, immunology, molecular biology, laboratory quality control, and clinical testing. Its research products came to include instruments, software, reagents, consumables, antibodies, and educational materials used in protein analysis, gene-expression studies, cell biology, drug development, food safety, and related fields. Its diagnostics activities developed around blood transfusion, diabetes, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, and other clinical applications. The company’s international reach expanded through subsidiaries and distribution networks. By 2016, it maintained direct distribution channels in more than 35 countries outside the United States, with additional sales supported by distributors and agents. This structure enabled Bio-Rad to combine local customer service with a global portfolio of laboratory technologies. In 2011, Bio-Rad added droplet digital PCR technology. The method partitions samples into large numbers of droplets, allowing researchers to detect rare sequences and quantify nucleic acids with high sensitivity. In January 2013, Bio-Rad acquired AbD Serotec, a MorphoSys division, adding more than 15,000 antibodies, kits, and related accessories to its research and diagnostic portfolio. In 2017, it acquired RainDance Technologies, a company associated with droplet-based PCR systems, reinforcing its molecular-analysis capabilities. Bio-Rad also developed a scientific publishing and education presence. Bioradiations began as a print magazine in 1965 and continued in print until 2011, when it was replaced by an online publication. The digital version provides researchers with application notes, case studies, technical information, and discussions related to laboratory methods and Bio-Rad products. The company experienced a major compliance crisis involving conduct by subsidiaries and acquired operations from 2005 through 2010. United States authorities alleged that improper payments were made to foreign government officials in Russia and Vietnam and that a bribery scheme at Diamed Thailand continued after it became known internally. Authorities also alleged that Bio-Rad’s books and records mischaracterized the payments. In 2017, Bio-Rad paid $55 million to settle related Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters with the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission. The same period produced a separate whistleblower dispute. Sanford Wadler, who had served as Bio-Rad’s general counsel for approximately 25 years, reported suspected bribery and accounting issues through internal channels in 2013. After his dismissal, litigation found that the termination violated California public policy. A jury award in 2017 was later reduced by an appeals court in 2019, with additional attorneys’ fees and costs awarded. Bio-Rad remains an active public company headquartered in Hercules, California. Its business continues to combine research technologies with clinical laboratory systems, using instruments, consumables, reagents, software, and technical support to serve scientific and healthcare customers internationally.

1. 2021Partnership with Roche announced

   Bio-Rad announced a partnership with Roche.

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2. 2017RainDance Technologies acquired

   The acquisition strengthened Bio-Rad’s droplet-based PCR and molecular-analysis capabilities.

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3. 2017Foreign bribery matters resolved

   Bio-Rad paid $55 million to resolve United States FCPA-related enforcement matters.

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4. 2013AbD Serotec acquired

   Bio-Rad purchased AbD Serotec from MorphoSys, adding a large portfolio of antibodies, kits, and accessories.

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5. 2011Droplet digital PCR technology added

   Bio-Rad obtained droplet digital PCR technology for sensitive detection of rare sequences and measurement of copy-number variation.

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6. 1989Vickers instrument business acquired

   Bio-Rad purchased Vickers Instruments’ non-defense instrument activities, extending its laboratory-equipment portfolio.

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7. 1976Environmental Chemical Specialties acquired

   The acquisition added a producer of human control serum and expanded Bio-Rad’s clinical quality-control activities.

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8. 1965Bioradiations begins publication

   Bio-Rad launched Bioradiations as a print magazine for laboratory researchers; it later became an online publication.

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9. 1952Company founded in Berkeley

   David and Alice Schwartz founded Bio-Rad Laboratories in Berkeley, California.

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A technically specialized, mid-to-premium supplier of life science research tools and clinical laboratory diagnostics.

• Droplet digital PCR systemsMolecular biology and genetic analysis2011

  Bio-Rad’s droplet digital PCR platforms partition samples into many reaction compartments, enabling highly sensitive and quantitative analysis of nucleic acids. The technology is used for applications such as rare-variant detection, copy-number analysis, mutation measurement, and other molecular workflows where precise target quantification is important.

• Protein electrophoresis and Western blotting systemsProtein analysis

  These products support separation, transfer, detection, and quantification of proteins. The line includes electrophoresis equipment, blotting systems, imaging tools, reagents, membranes, and consumables used by research and biotechnology laboratories to study protein expression and molecular characteristics.

• Chromatography and protein purification systemsBioprocessing and purification

  Bio-Rad supplies chromatography instruments, columns, media, and related consumables for separating and purifying biological molecules. These products serve academic research, pharmaceutical development, biotechnology manufacturing, and process-monitoring workflows involving proteins, antibodies, and other biomolecules.

• Clinical diabetes diagnosticsClinical diagnostics

  Bio-Rad provides laboratory systems and reagents used in diabetes monitoring and testing. These products help clinical laboratories measure relevant biomarkers and maintain analytical quality in workflows supporting diagnosis and long-term management of diabetes.

• Blood-typing and transfusion diagnosticsTransfusion medicine

  This portfolio supports blood-group testing, compatibility assessment, and transfusion-laboratory quality control. Its customers include blood banks, hospitals, and specialized clinical laboratories that require standardized systems and reagents for safe transfusion services.

• Research antibodies and assay kitsResearch reagents2013

  Bio-Rad’s antibody and assay portfolio supports immunology, cell biology, protein research, infectious-disease studies, and other laboratory applications. The acquisition of AbD Serotec significantly expanded the breadth of antibodies, kits, and accessories available to research and diagnostic customers.

• 1965Bioradiations

  Global scientific research market

  Bio-Rad created Bioradiations as a specialist publication intended to share laboratory methods, applications, and research information with customers. It later moved from print to an online format, continuing as a technical content and education channel.

  Outcome. Transitioned from print publication to online resource in 2011.

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• 2021Partnership with RocheStrategy

  The partnership reflected Bio-Rad’s use of external relationships to extend its position in clinical and laboratory diagnostics.

  What changed. Bio-Rad announced a partnership with Roche.

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• 2017Acquisition of RainDance TechnologiesM&A

  Bio-Rad aimed to reinforce its capabilities in droplet-based molecular analysis and PCR.

  What changed. Bio-Rad acquired RainDance Technologies, a developer of droplet-based PCR systems.

  Aftermath. The acquisition expanded Bio-Rad’s technology base in digital PCR and related molecular workflows.

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• 2013Acquisition of AbD SerotecM&A

  Bio-Rad sought to broaden its antibody, assay, and research-reagent portfolio.

  What changed. Bio-Rad purchased AbD Serotec, a division of MorphoSys AG.

  Aftermath. The transaction added more than 15,000 antibodies, kits, and accessories to Bio-Rad’s research and diagnostic offerings.

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• 2011Adoption of droplet digital PCR technologyProduct launch

  The technology addressed the need for more sensitive and precise nucleic-acid quantification, particularly in applications involving rare genetic sequences and copy-number variation.

  What changed. Bio-Rad added droplet digital PCR to its molecular biology technology portfolio.

  Aftermath. The technology became an important foundation for Bio-Rad’s digital PCR product offering.

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• 2019Whistleblower retaliation litigationControversy

  Former general counsel Sanford Wadler alleged that Bio-Rad terminated him after he reported suspected bribery and accounting misconduct through internal procedures. Courts found the termination violated California public policy. A jury award was later reduced on appeal to $7.96 million, with attorneys’ fees and costs also awarded.

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• 2017Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement mattersControversy

  United States authorities alleged that Bio-Rad subsidiaries and acquired operations made improper payments to foreign officials in Russia, Vietnam, and Thailand from 2005 through 2010, and that company books and records did not accurately describe the payments. Bio-Rad paid $55 million to resolve Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission matters.

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• 2021Bio-Rad announces partnership with Roche

  Bio-Rad announced a partnership with Roche, linking the two companies in the development or commercial relationship described in the reference material.

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1. Bio-Rad Laboratories
2. Bio-Rad Laboratories official website