BIRKENFELD (dpa-AFX) - Diagnostics specialist Stratec has again lowered its sales forecast after a weak quarter. In the third quarter, the downward slide in sales accelerated. The lot fell by eleven percent to just under 63 million euros, as the SDax-listed company announced in Birkenfeld on Friday. Due to the still prevailing phase of subdued market dynamics in the field of molecular diagnostic instrumentation solutions, a slight decline in sales is now expected after adjusting for currency effects. According to the forecast, which was lowered in the summer, Stratec had envisaged sales at or slightly above the level of the previous year. On the other hand, the forecast for the margin based on earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) of around ten to twelve percent was confirmed./zb/jha/