Lorne Labs

What Lorne Labs does

Lorne Laboratories Limited (trading as Lorne Labs) is a UK-based in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) manufacturer founded around 1970 and headquartered in Reading. The company specializes in blood grouping reagents, producing serological reagents for ABO, Rhesus, Kell, and rare blood group typing, alongside complementary diagnostic kits for syphilis screening, latex agglutination, and febrile antigens. It also distributes laboratory consumables in the UK under partnerships with Rockland Immunochemicals, Worthington Biochemical, Millipore, and Typenex (blood recipient identification systems), and offers its own Smearsafe fecal occult blood test. Underlying technology is classical immunohematology and serology - agglutination-based typing rather than molecular or AI-driven methods - with products CE-marked and aligned to BCSH and BBTS clinical guidelines.

The business model combines direct UK sales with an international distributor network that the company states reaches 132+ countries. Revenue is generated through reagent and consumable sales to national blood transfusion services, hospital transfusion laboratories, and clinical research institutions, with procurement typically tender-based and weighted toward public health buyers. NHS Blood and Transplant is identified as a key UK customer. In 2024 Lorne Labs was acquired by Calibre Scientific, a US-headquartered life science platform, positioning it within a broader diagnostics and life science tools roll-up and creating scope for cross-portfolio distribution synergies, particularly through the newly launched FFMU (For Further Manufacturing Use) and RUO (Research Use Only) product lines that serve OEM and academic buyers in addition to end-user blood banks.

Name

Lorne Labs

Legal name

Lorne Laboratories Limited

Website

https://lornelabs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lorne Labs is a UK-based IVD manufacturer producing blood grouping reagents and serological diagnostic kits for national blood services, hospital transfusion laboratories, and clinical research buyers across 132+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

In-Vitro Diagnostics

NAICS

In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

Blood Bank, Transfusion Medicine & Immunohematology (HLAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

IVD Reagents, Assay Kits & Consumables (Non-instrument) (HLAHAAAM), Reagents, Chemicals & Assay Kits (Buffers, Antibodies, ELISA, Enzymes) (HLAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Blood grouping reagents
• In-vitro diagnostics
• Immunohematology products
• Diagnostic test kits
• Laboratory equipment distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Reading

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Blood Transfusion Products: Sale of blood grouping reagents (ABO, Rhesus, Kell, Rare), potentiators, albumin, LISS, red cells, and controls. Includes both IVD and FFMU (For Further Manufacturing Use) product lines.
2. Diagnostic Kits: Sale of CE-marked latex kits, syphilis kits (TPHA, VDRL, RPR), febrile antigen kits, turbidimetric kits, and Rose Waaler kits for detection of various pathogens and autoimmune conditions.
3. Laboratory Equipment: Distribution of Typenex products (Smearsafe blood dispensers) and blood bank fridges/freezers in the UK market.
4. Enzymes and Biochemicals: UK distribution of Rockland Immunochemicals (primary/secondary antibodies, TrueBlot) and Worthington Biochemicals products, sourced from US manufacturers.
5. Millipore Blood Grouping Reagents: UK distribution of Millipore blood grouping reagents, sold only to UK-based customers, including packs of 10 vials for main ABO and Rhesus reagents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lorne Labs manufactures IVD blood grouping reagents (ABO, Rhesus, Kell, Rare groups) and CE-marked diagnostic kits (syphilis, latex agglutination, febrile antigens, Rose Waaler) in compliance with BCSH/BBTS UK Guidelines, and distributes laboratory equipment (Typenex Smearsafe), enzymes, and biochemicals (Rockland, Worthington, Millipore) across the UK and 132+ countries via a partner network.

Product overview

Lorne Labs is a UK-based manufacturer and distributor of medical laboratory reagents and equipment serving blood transfusion professionals. The core product portfolio consists of Blood Grouping Reagents (IVDs) including ABO, Rhesus, Kell, and Rare reagents, along with Potentiators, Red Cells, FFMU products, and RUO products for the blood transfusion market. The Diagnostic Kits division includes Syphilis Kits (TPHA, VDRL, RPR), Latex Kits (ASO, Rheumatoid Factor, CRP, IM), Febrile Antigen Kits (Salmonellae, Richettsiae, Brucellae), and Rose Waaler Kits. Laboratory Equipment includes the distributed Typenex brand (Smearsafe Blood Dispenser) and Blood Bank Fridges/Freezers. The company also distributes Rockland Immunochemicals and Worthington Biochemicals as UK distributors. Products are manufactured in the UK/EC in compliance with BCSH/BBTS UK Guidelines and CE marked where applicable.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lorne Blood Grouping Reagents (IVDs) Quality IVD blood grouping reagents including ABO reagents, Rhesus reagents, Kell reagents, and Rare reagents such as Anti-M, Anti-N and Anti-S, manufactured in full compliance with BCSH/BBTS UK Guidelines. Supplied at optimal dilution for use with slide, tube, gel card and microplate blood grouping techniques, with specialist blood grouping products including anti-human globulin for Coombs tests. For blood transfusion services and clinical laboratories.
• Potentiators & Accessories IVD Potentiators including PBS (Non-IVD), LISS and Albumin, plus accessories used in blood-grouping procedures. For blood transfusion laboratories.
• Red Cells Reverse Grouping and Coombs cells in full compliance with UK Red Book Standards. For blood transfusion laboratories performing reverse grouping and direct/indirect antiglobulin testing.
• For Further Manufacturing Use (FFMU) Products Bulk products containing relevant red cell monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, supplied in optimally diluted buffer solution, designed for use in the production of Immunohematology In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVDMDs). Customers may repack, relabel, and release under their own brand. Custom manufacturing support available.
• Research Use Only (RUO) Products Antibody solutions designated for Research Use Only, containing monoclonal antibodies targeting relevant red blood cell antigens supplied in optimally diluted buffer solution. Not validated for IVD use. For research laboratories.
• Syphilis Kits Syphilis test kits including TPHA reagent, VDRL reagent and RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) reagent for the detection of antibodies to the bacterium that causes syphilis in fresh serum or plasma. CE marked and manufactured in the EC.
• Latex Kits CE-marked latex slide-agglutination kits for detection of ASO, Rheumatoid Factor, C-Reactive Proteins (CRP) and Infectious Mononucleosis (IM). Bulk reagents also available. For clinical diagnostic laboratories.
• Febrile Antigen Kits Stained Febrile Antigen Kit consisting of killed bacterial suspensions for detection of Salmonellae, Richettsiae and Brucellae pathogens. Red-stained for flagellar H antigens, blue-stained for somatic O antigens. Suitable for slide and tube agglutination techniques with qualitative and semi-quantitative detection.
• Rose Waaler Kit Passive haemagglutination technique for qualitative and semi-quantitative detection of human serum Rheumatoid Factor. Code 156050A, 50 tests. For clinical diagnostic laboratories.
• Smearsafe Blood Dispenser Single-use blood dispenser for haematology enabling dispensing of blood from closed Vacutainer/Vacuette collection tubes without removing the stopper. Code TC1000, pack of 1000. UK distributed from US-based Typenex.
• Millipore Blood Grouping Reagents UK-distributed blood grouping reagents from Millipore; supplied only to customers based in the UK, including packs of 10 vials for main ABO and Rhesus reagents.
• Typenex Products UK-distributed laboratory equipment from US-based Typenex, specializing in products for safe and efficient transfusion and laboratory processes, including the Smearsafe blood dispenser.
• Rockland Immunochemicals UK-distributed biochemical and immunochemical products from US-based Rockland Immunochemicals including Primary Antibodies, Secondary Antibodies, Proteins and Peptides, GFP and Epitopes, Western Blotting (TrueBlot), and supporting reagents. Products are not held in stock; orders placed fortnightly from the US.
• Worthington Biochemicals UK-distributed enzymes and biochemicals from Worthington Biochemicals, a US manufacturer of biochemical and immunochemical products for laboratory and research environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products used by blood transfusion professionals in 132+ countries worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rockland ImmunochemicalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLorne is the UK distributor for Rockland Immunochemicals, a US-based company providing primary antibodies, secondary antibodies, proteins, peptides, TrueBlot Western Blotting products, GFP and epitope tags, and supporting reagents. Products are not held in stock; orders placed fortnightly from the US.
• Worthington BiochemicalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLorne is the UK distributor for Worthington Biochemicals, a US manufacturer of biochemical and immunochemical products for laboratory and research environments.
• Millipore (UK distribution)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLorne is the UK distributor for Millipore blood grouping reagents. These products are only available to customers based in the UK. Some reagents (ABO and Rhesus main products) are sold in packs of 10 vials.
• TypenexminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLorne Laboratories is the UK distributor for US-based Typenex, which specializes in innovative products enabling safe and efficient transfusion and laboratory processes, including the Smearsafe blood dispenser.
• NHS Blood and TransplantcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLorne is a major supplier to NHS Blood and Transplant, providing blood transfusion reagents and diagnostic products for the UK national blood service.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bio-Rad Laboratories: A global diagnostics and life science company that manufactures blood typing reagents and immunohematology products in direct competition with Lorne's core ABO/Rhesus/Kell/rare reagent portfolio, serving the same hospital blood banks and transfusion centres.
• Quotient Limited: A specialty blood transfusion diagnostics company historically focused on rare reagent and antibody screening products — comparable niche-scale specialist competing in the same immunohematology market segment.
• Immucor (Werfen): Specialist in transfusion and transplant diagnostics (acquired by Werfen), competing head-to-head in blood bank reagents, gel-card systems, and immunohematology automation — directly comparable to Lorne's reagent and Red Cells offerings.
• Ortho Clinical Diagnostics: A leading global provider of immunohematology and blood typing solutions including the widely adopted gel-card systems — a directly competing vendor whose products are used in slide, tube, gel card, and microplate techniques that Lorne's reagents also support.

Emerging players

• EKF Diagnostics: A UK-headquartered diagnostics company with point-of-care and specialty IVD products — a similar-sized British diagnostics peer active in comparable clinical laboratory and emerging-market segments.
• Fortress Diagnostics: A UK-based specialty diagnostics company offering serology and infectious disease test kits — a comparable smaller-scale manufacturer with overlapping syphilis, rheumatoid, and infectious-disease kit ranges.

Broad incumbents

• Grifols: A large Spanish multinational with a Diagnostic Grifols division offering blood bank and transfusion medicine products, ranging from reagents to fully automated systems — overlapping with Lorne but competing primarily at larger hospital-network tier.
• Sekisui Diagnostics: A broader clinical diagnostics provider with a portfolio spanning coagulation, serology, and infectious disease — overlapping with Lorne's diagnostic kits and febrile antigen product lines from a much larger commercial position.

Regional players

• BAG Diagnostics: A Germany-based diagnostics company with a blood banking portfolio (including BAG-S Series blood grouping reagents) — a similar-sized specialty IVD reagent manufacturer serving primarily European tenders.
• Tulip Diagnostics (PerkinElmer India): An Indian-based diagnostic reagents manufacturer with blood grouping and serology products — geographically complementary peer targeting emerging-market tender business similar to Lorne's international footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lorne-laboratories-uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lorne Labs