Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading multinational science and technology company that operates in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Founded in 1668, Merck is considered the oldest company in the world. Merck supports its customers by ensuring that drugs, food and beverages are safe for consumption by providing analytical tools for quality testing. Its broad range of ~250,000 products and services include lab water purification solutions; microbiology and bio-monitoring products; antibodies and multiplexed assay kits; analytical reagents; biochemicals; software, consumables and other services.