Vertex Biomedical Inc. has signed a lease for 16,876 square feet of office and laboratory space in Marlborough.

The company develops rapid tests for detecting bacterial contaminants in blood cells and tissue, and is moving into a 77,361-square-foot office, R&D and laboratory building at 120 Bartlett St.

NAI Hunneman brokers Dan Collins, vice president; Stephen Cusano, associate; and Tom Egan, associate, represented the landlord, The Ram Cos., in the transaction.

A privately held company founded in Worcester in 1999, Verax Biomedical was represented in the lease negotiation by Jones Lang LaSalle.

Located just over a mile from Interstate 495, the building at 120 Bartlett St. building was constructed in 1966 and extensively renovated in 2003.

"The existing mix of office and lab space at 120 Bartlett St. is perfectly suited to Verax Biomedical’s needs," Collins said in a statement.