Unipath
Encyclopedia
Unipath Ltd is a large pharmaceutical company
specialising mainly in medical diagnostic kits related to women's reproductive health. Recently, it has been diversifying its product range to include more specialised test kits, primarily for the clinical market, in areas outside of women's reproductive healthcare.
Based in Bedford
, United Kingdom
, Unipath headquarters has management, research and development and manufacturing facilities under one roof. Regional sales and distribution centres are located in Germany
, Scandinavia
and the USA. Globally, the company has between 500 and 600 employees.
group. In 1985 they released and started to manufacture the first in their line of home pregnancy test kits marketed under the Clearblue brand. The name is related to the fact that the test produced a blue marker line as a positive (pregnant) result and that it is 'clear' and simple to use. The product was a success, in part due to intensive advertising and held a majority market share in the UK by the end of the year.
Unipath released their clearplan home ovulation kit in 1987. The kit was designed for use in identifying the period of peak fertility in a prospective mother's menstrual cycle
so that the optimal time for insemination leading to conception could be determined. In 1996 Unipath released a complementary product, the Persona fertility monitor
, designed to identify fertile and infertile periods in the menstrual cycle
. Identification of fertile and infertile days is known as fertility awareness
, and may be used as birth control or to help achieve pregnancy.
Unipath continued to make improvements to its fertility-related products over the years, improving their convenience and reliability of use. Refinements included a urine collector strip on their Clearblue pregnancy test that turns pink to indicate proper urine absorption, thus reducing the chance of a false-negative test by improper use. A later refinement also replacing the simple blue line indicator with an LCD display that clearly indicates the result, reducing the chance of the test line being misinterpreted by people unaccustomed to using medical test kits.
In 2001 Unilever sold the company to the Inverness Medical Innovations Group. The company has since diversified its products considerably, offering a greater range of test kits for strictly clinical usage. These include tests for Respiratory syncytial virus, Hepatitis B and chlamydia infections, as well as blood chemistry test kits designed to aid diagnosis of myocardial infarction
and deep vein thrombosis
. Most of these tests employ adaptions of unipath's in-house developed technology and patents thereof. In part, the diversification of the company's range of products in recent years is in anticipation of its original patents expiring, opening it to competition from companies that may use the same technology. In 1994, unipath released its own range of vitamin supplements for both pregnant and breastfeeding
women, released under the Clearblue brand in synergy with its successful pregnancy test kit.
Pharmaceutical company
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...
specialising mainly in medical diagnostic kits related to women's reproductive health. Recently, it has been diversifying its product range to include more specialised test kits, primarily for the clinical market, in areas outside of women's reproductive healthcare.
Based in Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Unipath headquarters has management, research and development and manufacturing facilities under one roof. Regional sales and distribution centres are located in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and the USA. Globally, the company has between 500 and 600 employees.
History
Unipath was formed in 1984 by the UnileverUnilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
group. In 1985 they released and started to manufacture the first in their line of home pregnancy test kits marketed under the Clearblue brand. The name is related to the fact that the test produced a blue marker line as a positive (pregnant) result and that it is 'clear' and simple to use. The product was a success, in part due to intensive advertising and held a majority market share in the UK by the end of the year.
Unipath released their clearplan home ovulation kit in 1987. The kit was designed for use in identifying the period of peak fertility in a prospective mother's menstrual cycle
Menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle is the scientific term for the physiological changes that can occur in fertile women for the purpose of sexual reproduction. This article focuses on the human menstrual cycle....
so that the optimal time for insemination leading to conception could be determined. In 1996 Unipath released a complementary product, the Persona fertility monitor
Fertility monitor
A fertility monitor is an electronic device which may utilize various methods to assist the user with fertility awareness. A fertility monitor may analyze changes in hormone levels in urine, basal body temperature, electrical resistance of saliva and vaginal fluids, or a combination of these methods...
, designed to identify fertile and infertile periods in the menstrual cycle
Menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle is the scientific term for the physiological changes that can occur in fertile women for the purpose of sexual reproduction. This article focuses on the human menstrual cycle....
. Identification of fertile and infertile days is known as fertility awareness
Fertility awareness
Fertility awareness refers to a set of practices used to determine the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Fertility awareness methods may be used to avoid pregnancy, to achieve pregnancy, or as a way to monitor gynecological health....
, and may be used as birth control or to help achieve pregnancy.
Unipath continued to make improvements to its fertility-related products over the years, improving their convenience and reliability of use. Refinements included a urine collector strip on their Clearblue pregnancy test that turns pink to indicate proper urine absorption, thus reducing the chance of a false-negative test by improper use. A later refinement also replacing the simple blue line indicator with an LCD display that clearly indicates the result, reducing the chance of the test line being misinterpreted by people unaccustomed to using medical test kits.
In 2001 Unilever sold the company to the Inverness Medical Innovations Group. The company has since diversified its products considerably, offering a greater range of test kits for strictly clinical usage. These include tests for Respiratory syncytial virus, Hepatitis B and chlamydia infections, as well as blood chemistry test kits designed to aid diagnosis of myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein. Deep vein thrombosis commonly affects the leg veins or the deep veins of the pelvis. Occasionally the veins of the arm are affected...
. Most of these tests employ adaptions of unipath's in-house developed technology and patents thereof. In part, the diversification of the company's range of products in recent years is in anticipation of its original patents expiring, opening it to competition from companies that may use the same technology. In 1994, unipath released its own range of vitamin supplements for both pregnant and breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
women, released under the Clearblue brand in synergy with its successful pregnancy test kit.