DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 27, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PositiveID Corporation ("PositiveID" or "Company") (OTCQB:PSID), a developer of biological detection and diagnostics solutions, today announced that it has successfully detected influenza on its Firefly Dx breadboard prototype PCR (polymerase chain reaction) pathogen detection system.
Influenza is an RNA virus and requires a reverse transcription step to create cDNA prior to PCR being performed. The entire testing process was performed on the Firefly Dx breadboard, which is significantly faster than standard laboratory equipment and protocols, with results achieved in minutes instead of hours or days.
In testing, PositiveID ran a third-party Human Seasonal Influenza Virus and assay and detected the Type A virus, with no change to the assay's chemistry ratio or design. Other strains currently being tested include Influenza B, H1 and H3 strains. The Firefly Dx is designed with the capability to screen for and detect multiple strains of the virus simultaneously with a single test.
"These latest testing results are significant because testing for the influenza virus using existing standard PCR protocols requires additional sample preparation steps prior to performing PCR," stated William J. Caragol, Chairman and CEO of PositiveID. "With our Firefly Dx breadboard prototype we are able to deliver sample-to-result detection in one step in minutes. That time savings can be critical for point-of-need detection during an outbreak of any pathogen."
Firefly Dx is designed to provide real-time, accurate diagnostic results in a handheld device, thereby leading to treatment scenarios at the point of need that are not possible with existing systems, which require lab-based equipment and can take hours or even days to provide results. Firefly's applications include point-of-need, lab-quality, detection of pathogenic organisms; agricultural screening in both domestic sectors and developing countries; and detection of biological agents associated with weapons of mass destruction.
The real-time or quantitative PCR testing market is estimated to reach $5.65 billion by 2020, according to IQ4I Research & Consultancy's PCR Technologies Global Market: Forecast to 2020.
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 biological 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 and analyze biological samples. For more information on PositiveID, please visit http://www.PositiveIDCorp.com.
Statements about PositiveID's future expectations, including the likelihood that Firefly Dx will be capable of screening for and detecting multiple strains of the virus simultaneously with a single test; the likelihood that Firefly Dx is designed to provide real-time, accurate diagnostic results in a handheld device, thereby leading to treatment scenarios at the point of need that are not possible with existing systems, which require lab-based equipment and can take hours or even days to provide results; the likelihood that the real-time or quantitative PCR testing market is estimated to reach $5.65 billion by 2020; 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 complete the development of its Firefly Dx system; 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 March 30, 2015, and 10-Qs filed on May 15, 2015, November 17, 2014, and August 14, 2014, 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.