Diagnon

Diagnon Corporation was a biotechnology company founded in 1981 and based in Rockville, Maryland, that specialized in diagnostic testing and contract research services. The company initially focused on developing and marketing diagnostic kits for infectious diseases, most notably for HIV and Hepatitis B. In 1986, Diagnon significantly expanded its capabilities by acquiring Microbiological Associates, a leader in biological safety testing and toxicology. This acquisition shifted the company's primary business model toward providing essential services for the biopharmaceutical industry. In 1997, Diagnon rebranded as BioReliance Corporation to better reflect its role as a contract research organization (CRO). BioReliance was eventually acquired by Sigma-Aldrich in 2012 for $350 million and currently operates as a key component of Merck KGaA's life science business.