Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty today joined with Memphis and Shelby County officials to announce the decision by Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories to open a new laboratory in Memphis. The company will invest $3 million and create 65 lab processing, medical technologist and management positions.
“It is a testament to our state’s business friendly environment and available, high quality workforce when successful companies, such as Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories, decide to locate in Tennessee,” Haslam said. “Today's announcement is part of our continuing effort to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“I am pleased that, in this competitive economic environment, a global company like Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories has recognized Tennessee as a great place to do business,” Hagerty said. “Shelby County offers an ideal location, and I appreciate the investment and new jobs Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories will bring to our state.”
Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories is the service laboratory division of Oxford Immunotec. Oxford Immunotec is a global immunology focused diagnostics company developing novel new tests for various diseases based on its innovative, patented T-SPOT® technology. The company’s first product is the T-SPOT.TB test, a blood test for Tuberculosis (TB) infection. The company was founded in 2002 based on world-leading research at the University of Oxford. The European headquarters is located in Abingdon, United Kingdom, and the North American headquarters is located in Marlborough, Mass. The Memphis facility will be located at 5846 Distribution Drive.
“This is a very exciting time for our company with the opening of our new state-of-the-art lab in Memphis” Dr. Peter Wrighton-Smith, CEO, Oxford Immunotec, said. “This new 35,000 square foot facility provides the capacity to service our rapid growth in customers and test volumes. We are delighted to be locating our newest facility in Memphis, and we are extremely pleased to be partnering with the city of Memphis and the state of Tennessee.”
“We are so happy that Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories will be joining our Memphis family,” A C Wharton, Jr., Memphis mayor, said. “Due, in large part, to our role as America’s Aerotropolis, Memphis has found a niche with medical diagnostics, and we foresee a long and prosperous relationship between this community and Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories.”
“We are pleased Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories is coming to our community,” Mark H. Luttrell, Jr., Shelby County mayor, said. “The company’s decision to open a Memphis facility and create 65 new jobs is welcomed news. This is another example of how our economy in Shelby County is improving as more and more businesses establish operations here.”
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tn.gov/ecd.