Cepheid Launches Mobile Community for "Ride Against TB" Campaign to Benefit the American Lung Association

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) today launched its mobile community for the recently announced 'Ride Against TB' campaign to benefit the American Lung Association. The goal of the campaign (at www.Facebook.com/RideAgainstTB) is to raise overall awareness of the need for improved diagnostic solutions for tuberculosis (TB) and to raise funds to benefit the American Lung Association in its fight against all lung disease.

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Beginning today, legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including District of Columbia) who will be at least eighteen (18) years of age as of February 27, 2014 can text RIDE to 50555 to join our mobile community and enter for a chance to win a custom designed motorcycle by celebrity bike builder Paul Teutul Jr.

For the Official Rules, updates, photos, and other campaign details, please visit www.Facebook.com/RideAgainstTB. All of the net proceeds from the campaign will directly benefit the American Lung Association.

"Translating recent major technological advances in the detection and diagnosis of TB into meaningful improvements in clinical care will be greatly facilitated through increased TB awareness within the U.S.," said John Bishop, Cepheid's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited to once again collaborate with the incredible team at Paul Jr. Designs, who have created another stunning bike that will benefit this worthy cause. By joining our mobile community you can help Cepheid and the American Lung Association elevate TB awareness within the U.S. in the ongoing fight against all respiratory disease."

The 'Ride Against TB' campaign was announced at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) annual meeting and Clinical Lab Expo in Houston on July 30^th. Highlighting the announcement was the unveil of the 'Ride Against TB' motorcycle designed by Paul Teutul Jr., who built his reputation for innovation and creativity through his starring role on the popular TV show 'American Chopper'.

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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SOURCE Cepheid