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New Genetic Testing Firm Formed as BelHealth Acquires Three Labs

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Private equity firm BelHealth Investment Partners said on Thursday it has acquired three genetic testing laboratories and formed General Genetics.

Financial and other terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed.

With the purchases of Genetics Testing Laboratories, Forensic Testing Laboratory, and Clinical Testing Laboratories, General Genetics will offer DNA testing to 25 countries. The three labs acquired in the transaction were established in 2001 at the Arrowhead Research Center on the campus of New Mexico State University and were led by lab director Steve Long.

The labs offered genetic testing in relationship testing; forensic testing; and clinical testing for genetic predisposition, pharmacogenomics, disease classification, diet and fitness, and other clinical applications, BelHealth said.

In a statement, Long said, "Our partnership with BelHealth will allow me and my team to build out our product offerings in pharmacogenomics, breast cancer profiling, ophthalmology, diabetes, and other clinical areas."

Bud Thompson has been hired to be General Genetics' CEO. He has more than 30 years of healthcare management experience and was most recently Chief Administrative Officer for Solstas Lab Partners.

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