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SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) today announced the launch of its "Ride Against TB" campaign to benefit the American Lung Association. The goal of the campaign is to raise overall awareness of the need for improved diagnostic solutions for the rapid detection of tuberculosis and to raise funds to benefit the American Lung Association in its fight against all lung disease.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130730/LA55323)

The "Ride Against TB" campaign, which kicked off today from Cepheid booth #4529 at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC)/American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) annual meeting and clinical lab expo in Houston, was highlighted by the live unveil of a brand new, custom designed bike by Paul Teutul Jr. of Paul Jr. Designs (PJD). Fresh from his starring role on the popular TV show "American Chopper," Paul Jr. and his team took a 2013 Fat Boy Harley-Davidson motorcycle and customized it into a one-of-a-kind PJD creation. For complete updates, photos and other campaign details, please visit www.Facebook.com/RideAgainstTB.

To generate awareness and raise funds to benefit the American Lung Association, beginning in August nearly all legal residents of the U.S. 18 years of age or over (or who will reach their 18th birthday by February 27, 2014) can enter to win the new custom bike. When people enter to win, they will have the opportunity to make a small donation to benefit the American Lung Association (visit www.Facebook.com/RideAgainstTB for complete contest rules.)

"This is an excellent opportunity for both Cepheid and the American Lung Association to elevate TB awareness within the U.S. and help fight overall lung disease," said John Bishop, Cepheid's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Following the success of our Art Meets Innovation event in 2011 (www.cepheid.com/cepheid-bike), we are excited to once again collaborate with the incredible team at Paul Jr. Designs, who have created another stunning bike that will help to benefit a worthy cause."

Tuberculosis remains a major global health concern, with an estimated 8.7 million new cases reported worldwide in 2011 according to the WHO. Continuing the decline of TB cases in the United States will require a sustained focus on domestic TB control activities and further support of global TB control initiatives.¹

"The American Lung Association was founded in 1904 to fight tuberculosis," said Harold P. Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association. "Despite popular misconceptions that TB is a disease of the past, it continues to pose a threat to public health. A century ago, TB was a leading cause of death in the United States. In the U.S., tuberculosis disease and deaths have declined steadily from the early 1900s due largely to the introduction of effective antibiotics and improvements in living conditions. Our goal is to raise public awareness of the need for improved diagnosis and treatment options for lung disease patients and to increase access to appropriate health care for all."

The symptoms of TB in its early stages are similar to many different types of infections, thus having an accurate test to rule out the disease is critical for patients. All persons are potentially susceptible to TB, though the disease remains more common in certain parts of the world.  Compounding the problem is the emergence of drug resistant strains, which are more difficult to treat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2012 63 percent of reported TB cases in the U.S. occurred in foreign-born persons, with case rates that were 11.5 times higher than among U.S. born persons.² Maintaining control of TB in the U.S. will require more effective strategies to control TB globally.

For information about the American Lung Association and its fight against lung disease, please visit www.Lung.org. For more information about Cepheid's "Ride Against TB" campaign and the complete list of rules for the "Ride Against TB" sweepstakes, visit www.Facebook.com/RideAgainstTB.

The winner of the new PJD bike will be announced publicly at a World TB Day event to take place in New York on March 24, 2014. At the event, the total funds raised to benefit the American Lung Association will also be announced.

About Cepheid

Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) is a leading molecular diagnostics company that is dedicated to improving healthcare by developing, manufacturing, and marketing accurate yet easy-to-use molecular systems and tests. By automating highly complex and time-consuming manual procedures, the company's solutions deliver a better way for institutions of any size to perform sophisticated genetic testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases. Through its strong molecular biology capabilities, the company is focusing on those applications where accurate, rapid, and actionable test results are needed most, such as managing infectious diseases and cancer. Cepheid's newly announced Xpert MTB/RIF test can provide rapid information on the presence of TB and potential drug resistance within two hours, which distinguishes it from other available TB tests. For more information, visit http://www.cepheid.com.

About the American Lung Association


Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1 800 LUNG USA (1 800 586 4872) or visit www.lung.org.

References:

1. http://www.cdc.gov/tb/statistics/reports/2011/executivecommentary.htm
2. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6211a2.htm

SOURCE Cepheid