LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Universal Detection Technology (OTCBB:UDTT) (FWB:PO8), a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and other infectious health threats, announced that it has commenced work on developing a smart ticket assay for detection of Anthrax spores based on technology developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL). The intellectual property was licensed by the Company from the California Institute of Technology in February of 2006.
Smart Ticket assays are rapid field tests that are similar in format to common home pregnancy tests. They can be used by specially trained first responders such as a Haz-Mat Teams to test for Anthrax quickly. Current methods commercially available require at least 10,000 spores to show a positive result, while a dosage of 2,500 spores is enough to cause an infection. UDT's Smart Ticket will be sensitive enough to identify the presence of 10 spores in a given sample.
Once a suspicious powder is added to the UDT Smart Ticket Assay it is drawn on to the test strip by capillary action. If Anthrax spores are present, they bind to the species-specific antibodies in the assay. Dipicolinic Acid (DPA), a molecule unique to bacterial spores, is released from spores present in the bound sample at which time the DPA combines with Terbium (Tb) ions present on the test strip. When the Tb-DPA complex is excited under UV light it gives off an intense green luminescence that would indicate the presence of Anthrax spores.
"Measuring luminescence intensities against a dark background is much more sensitive than measuring a small change in scattering intensity against a bright background. This is why we believe that the Tb-DPA method coupled to the standard lateral-flow immunoassay for anthrax spore detection will improve the sensitivity by a factor of 1000. This will make the anthrax 'smart ticket' concept sensitive enough for detecting trace quantities of anthrax powder," said Amir Ettehadieh, UDTT's Director of Research and Development.
"UDTT's development of the Smart Ticket Assay follows the successful development of the BSM-2000 Anthrax Detection device. We saw a need within the first responder community for a more accurate method to test suspicious powders. Our handheld Smart Ticket Assay will be able to identify Anthrax spores in the minute quantities that would not be detected by methods currently on the market," said Universal Detection's CEO, Jacques Tizabi.
About Universal Detection Technology
Universal Detection Technology is a developer of monitoring technologies, including bio-terrorism detection devices. The Company on its own and with development partners is positioned to capitalize on opportunities related to Homeland Security. For example, the Company, in cooperation with NASA, has developed a bio-terror 'smoke' detector that detects certain bio-hazard substances. For more information, please visit http://www.udetection.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievement in the future to differ materially from forecasted results, performance, and achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in the Company's plans or expectations.