Launched by ATCC in June 2005, the ATCC Licensed Derivative™ program establishes a mechanism to confirm the identity, viability and purity of microbes contained in commercial microbiology products sold by members of the program. Quality control professionals as well as consumers are assured that products bearing ATCC's Licensed Derivative emblem contain microorganisms tested by ATCC to ensure they are viable, pure and accurately identified.

ATCC have recently added Kentucky-based Gibson Laboratories, Inc. to the program. With the Gibson agreement, the Licensed Derivative program now benefits thousands of quality control professionals who use commercial microbiology products at hospitals and laboratories in 36 countries.

Gibson Laboratories, an established provider of microbiology supplies, is the third company to join the ATCC Licensed Derivative program in recent months. The other companies involved in the program are Minnesota-based MicroBioLogics Inc., which joined in June 2005, and Quality Technologies LLC of California, a member since November 2005.