Photo Release -- PositiveID Corporation Launches Development of Firefly Dx to Confirm Biological Threats in the Field Within Mi
April 29 2013 - 8:30AM
PositiveID Corporation ("PositiveID" or "Company") (OTCBB:PSIDD), a
developer of biological detection and diagnostics solutions, today
announced it has launched the development of the Firefly Dx
detection system ("Firefly"), a portable, hand-held, point-of-need
molecular diagnostic system, which is being designed to provide
test results from sample input through reporting of results in less
than 15 to 30 minutes depending on the type of test performed.
Firefly is expected to quickly process human and agricultural
samples to provide accurate confirmation of biological threats via
a smart-phone application.
A photo accompanying this release is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=18389
The goal of Firefly is to take the Company's patented molecular
diagnostic technology underlying its M-BAND (Microfluidics-based
Bioagent Networked Detector) airborne bio-threat detector and
Dragonfly™ Rapid MDx Cartridge-based diagnostic system, and
implement it in a handheld device that can be used anywhere,
anytime to test for biological agents.
The Company believes the target markets for Firefly include
military field deployments, remote areas with limited or no access
to healthcare, border locations and others. The Company believes
most of the competing technologies currently available for
biological detection and diagnosis are costly, labor intensive, and
often restricted to laboratory/clinical settings. This
significantly limits effective point-of-care or timely monitoring
of biological events at the point of need.
William J. Caragol, Chairman and CEO of PositiveID, stated, "The
need for a hand-held system like Firefly is real. Whether natural
or man-made, an invasive disease outbreak without proper monitoring
or detection, which therefore results in less effective
countermeasures, can seriously affect the health and commercial
stability of livestock or human populations on a large scale.
Recent events such as the ricin-laced letters sent to President
Obama and other political leaders, as well as the emerging deadly
strain of bird flu in China, underscore the necessity for a system
like Firefly. We have begun conversations with several potential
partners to attract the research and development capital to
complete the development of this innovative system."
Firefly is being designed as a disposable, cartridge-based
system to process a variety of sample types, including whole blood,
buccal and nasopharyngeal swabs, urine, and environmental field
samples. The incorporated, multiplex polymerase chain reaction
("PCR") assay is being designed to analyze for multiple,
user-defined targets from a single sample. Furthermore, by taking
advantage of the TaqMan®-based PCR assay and real-time detection,
Firefly is being designed to measure altered gene expression levels
such as those observed in endocrine diseases, radiation exposure,
and cancer. Results can be immediately obtained and processed
wherever you are via a smart-phone interface (or personal computer)
with a specialized, mobile application and cloud-based data sharing
and storage.
About PositiveID Corporation
PositiveID Corporation is an emerging growth company and
developer of biological detection systems for America's homeland
defense industry as well as rapid medical testing. PositiveID is
focused on the development of microfluidic systems for the
automated preparation of and performance of biological assays in
order to detect biological threats at high-value locations, as well
as analyze samples in a medical environment. For more information
on PositiveID, please visit http://www.PositiveIDCorp.com.
Statements about PositiveID's future expectations, including,
without limitation, the likelihood that Firefly will be used in the
identification of biological agents associated with weapons of mass
destruction, point-of-need monitoring of pathogenic outbreaks and
agricultural screening; the likelihood that Firefly is expected to
quickly process human and agricultural samples to provide accurate
confirmation of biological threats via a smart-phone application;
the likelihood that target markets for Firefly include military
field deployments, remote areas with limited or no access to
healthcare, border locations and others; the likelihood that most
of the competing technologies currently available for biological
detection and diagnosis are costly, labor intensive, and often
restricted to laboratory/clinical settings; the likelihood that the
need for Firefly is real; and all statements in this press release
constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the
Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to
change at any time, and PositiveID's actual results could differ
materially from expected results. These risks and uncertainties
include, without limitation, the Company's ability to target the
bio-threat detection and rapid medical testing sectors; the
Company's ability to attract the research and development capital
to complete the development of Firefly; as well as other risks.
Additional information about these and other factors that could
affect the Company's business is set forth in the Company's various
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
those set forth in the Company's 10-K filed on April 16, 2013 under
the caption "Risk Factors." The Company undertakes no obligation to
update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements
to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement
or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as
required by law.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
CONTACT: PositiveID Corporation
Allison Tomek
561-805-8000
atomek@positiveidcorp.com