Healthcare giant 3M has invested £1.7 million on a combined manufacturing and research and development centre in Loughborough.

The development, at the company's Derby Road site, will make rapid screening technology to treat the hospital superbug MRSA, as well as acting as a global centre of excellence for other associated infections.
The 3M BacLite Rapid MRSA test being manufactured at the new site provides hospital microbiology laboratories with a simpler and faster method of detection.

The test brings results from clinical specimens within just five hours, compared with up to three or four days using traditional screening. This means that patients with MRSA can be isolated and begin treatment in a much faster time.

Spokeswoman Rosalind Smith said: "As a company, 3M has a strong history in infection prevention and this new area of rapid detection complements our existing portfolio.

"As well as assisting clinicians and their patients, the product also helps to improve the productivity of hospital laboratories by reducing the amount of hands-on time taken in conducting MRSA screening tests."

The official opening of the centre was carried out by Professor Brian Duerden, inspector of microbiology and infection control for the Department of Health.

Among the invited guests were leading hospital clinicians and NHS officials as well as representatives from other organisations, such as the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce and LATI (Leading Advanced Technology and Innovation).

The centre has created nine jobs at the Derby Road site, taking the workforce there to 478. The company also employs 191 staff at its site in Morley Street, off Nottingham Road, Loughborough, and 44 people at Holywell Park, off Ashby Road, in the town. Another 129 3M staff work from home in the Loughborough area.

Loughborough is the US company's UK headquarters for health care, from where it markets more than 1,000 healthcare products.

Source: Leicester Mercury

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