VITAMIN testing kit maker Immunodiagnostics Systems (IDS) is aiming to streamline the business after warning that its full year revenues would be below market expectations.

The Boldon-based business now predicts sales of £52m-53m because of current trading patterns, with pre-tax profits of around £14.5m-£15.3m.

IDS said markets for its manual vitamin D tests are becoming more competitive, especially in the US.  But it said placement and revenues of its flagship IDS-iSYS vitamin testing machines are ahead of last year.

The company plans to save around £2m a year through efficiencies and is boosting its sales and marketing, especially in the US. It is also introducing a host of new tests for the IDS-iSYS machine over the next year.

“The board expects overall revenues to show similar year on year growth in the new financial year with the decline in manual test sales being offset by increased IDS-iSYS revenues arising from new placements and additional products becoming available on the IDS-iSYS system,” said the company.

“As a result of the combined impact of the factors and actions outlined above, the board expects profit growth to resume in the new financial year.”