First Field-Portable Sensor for Detection of Biological Agents in Final Stage of Development

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Integrated Nano-Technologies (INT) announced today that it has acquired a suite of patents that will establish it as the leader in electronic DNA detection. At the same time, INT is completing development of BioDetect, a new DNA based testing system that will rapidly and accurately test for the presence of biological pathogens, such as the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) as well as anthrax, and smallpox.

This system will fill a substantial void in current methods of detection, which are slow, lab-based and expensive. The BioDetect system will return results in less than 30 minutes, and is small enough to be carried for use outdoors or installed in air circulation systems. INT has been developing BioDetect for the past two years, during which time world events have further underscored the need for such a system.

Recently, INT acquired a collection of patents from Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), which cover the metallization of DNA. Technion's ground-breaking work in this field has been recognized through publications in the journals "Science" and "Nature." These technologies, when combined with INT's expertise in chip fabrication and molecular biology will produce an entirely new sensor that lies at the heart of BioDetect.

"Traditional biological agent detection systems involve sending samples to laboratories, where they undergo a complex testing process that can take up to 24 hours to complete," said Michael Connolly, CEO of Integrated Nano-Technologies. "The BioDetect system will generate results in the field substantially faster and with greater accuracy than any existing system or test."

The BioDetect system will be a field-portable, electronic based DNA detection system that can test air, liquid or solid samples. The system uses disposable test processing cards and weighs approximately 20 pounds. The system will be able to test for the presence of biological agents, including the SARS virus, anthrax, and smallpox in as little as 30 minutes. Commercial availability is expected by the end of 2003. Future versions of the system will enable the medical community to identify additional illness-causing pathogens in patients without sending samples to laboratories.

Source: Integrated Nano-Technologies