TWO companies have joined the battle against deadly hospital superbug MRSA.

As new government figures showed that hospitals were still failing to get to grips with the superbug, the two Bolton companies have won a contract to provide instruments that can detect MRSA in just five hours.

Rhys International, an equipment and logistics management company, has teamed up with JPBioMed, which supplies diagnostic instruments and technical support.

Both companies, based on Halliwell Business Park, already supply a disinfectant range called Sterl-STAT, which includes sprays, wipes and hand washes.

The products kill microbes including MRSA, E-Coli, salmonella, and listeria within a minute and keeps treated areas clean for up to seven days.

Now the companies have been awarded a contract to supply Bio-Stat Limited, UK distributor of Sterl-STAT, with the instrumentation needed for a new process that can detect the presence of MRSA in just 5 hours. Current laboratory identification takes 48 hours. Barry Coyle, managing director of Rhys International, said: "These are exciting times for us.

"Now that there is a cost-effective way of testing individuals, hospitals can begin to take control.

"It's an astonishing weapon for the NHS in combating hospital infections, and we are delighted to be supplying the instrumentation for the UK, and obviously look forward to the opportunity to be involved on a worldwide scale."

Rhys and JPBioMed will assemble the instrumentation in a new shared laboratory facility.