i-Stat's New Mainstream Partner: Abbott

The new strategic alliance between i-Stat Corp. and Abbott Laboratories Inc. signals something of an about-face for both companies [See Deal]. i-Stat initially steered clear of hospital central laboratories, pitching its innovative hand-held point-of-care (POC) blood analyzer to other hospital departments like critical care unit coordinators and hospital financial administrators, an approach that aroused considerable controversy. While the company has softened its stance in recent years, its deal with Abbott signifies a major effort on i-Stat's part to work through the central laboratory-where Abbott, after all, has a stronghold.

For Abbott, too, the relationship is a change in direction. While Abbott has been involved for several years in POC...