DELRAY BEACH, Fla., June 21, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PositiveID Corporation ("PositiveID" or "Company") (Nasdaq:PSID), a developer of medical technologies for diabetes management, clinical diagnostics and bio-threat detection, announced today the launch of its Multiplex BioThreat Assay ("MBA"), the first commercially available MBA for the detection of up to six bio-threat organisms on the Centers for Disease Control Category A and B lists. The MBA was developed by MicroFluidic Systems ("MFS"), which was acquired on May 23, 2011, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of PositiveID. The Company plans to initially target public health and university labs that test for pathogens.

Intended for investigative and research use, PositiveID's MBA is unique in that it offers rapid and multiple organism identification. Currently available methods require more sample, are generally more costly and not amenable to high-throughput analyses. PositiveID's multiplex assay is designed to provide test results for up to six organisms in the time of a single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (i.e. 30 to 90 minutes), versus the several hours or more required to test multiple samples with conventional methods. The assay has been successfully validated against more than 150 competing natural occurring strains, near-neighbors, and environmental samples.

The BioThreat Assay Kit provides added specificity and selectivity by using a total of 16 genomic and plasmid specific signatures to confirm the presence or absence of an organism. The proprietary multicolor combinatorial approach allows a user to rapidly screen a biological sample for the presence of five bacteria and one virus in only three simultaneous reactions, whereas a traditional singleplex method would require 16 reactions to accomplish the identical task. An additional benefit of the multiplex kit is a significant reduction in cost per test when compared to running the samples in a singleplex format.

PositiveID's MBA tests for the following six organisms with 16 organism specific signatures: Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax); Yersinia pestis (Plague); Francisella tularensis (Tularemia); Burkholderia Pseudomallei (Melioidosis); Burkholderia mallei (Glanders); and Variola major* (Small Pox). 

Mr. Lyle Probst, Senior Director of Programs at MFS, and co-developer of the assay said, "As we begin to market our MBA to the more than 100 public health and university labs that test for these pathogens, we believe that our fully customizable MBA will provide more investigative screening power at a lower cost than competitor products. Most labs currently test with singleplex assays or multiplex assays that are only two to three signatures deep. Our innovative multiplex assay tests for six organisms with 16 signatures across only three reactions, providing a research, screening and monitoring tool that, we believe, will save labs considerable time and money."

For more information on PositiveID's MBA, please call 1-866-402-2447 or send an email to information@positiveidcorp.com.

*Variola major is an optional component of the MBA.

About PositiveID Corporation

PositiveID Corporation develops unique medical devices and biological detection systems, focused primarily on diabetes management, rapid medical testing and airborne bio-threat detection. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, MFSI, is focused on the development of microfluidic systems for automated preparation of and performance of biological assays. For more information on PositiveID, please visit www.PositiveIDCorp.com. ;

The PositiveID Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7717

Statements about PositiveID's future expectations, including its ability to launch the MBA, the first commercially available MBA for the detection of up to six bio-threat organisms on the Centers for Disease Control Category A and B lists; the likelihood that the MBA is unique in that it offers rapid and multiple organism identification; the likelihood that currently available methods require more sample, are generally more costly and not amenable to high-throughput analyses; the likelihood that PositiveID's multiplex assay is designed to provide test results for up to six organisms in the time of a single PCR (i.e. 30 to 90 minutes), versus the several hours or more required to test multiple samples with conventional methods; the likelihood that the proprietary multicolor combinatorial approach allows a user to rapidly screen a biological sample for the presence of five bacteria and one virus in only three simultaneous reactions, whereas a traditional singleplex method would require 16 reactions to accomplish the identical task; the likelihood that as the Company begins to market its MBA to the more than 100 public health and university labs that test for these pathogens, its fully customizable MBA will provide more investigative screening power at a lower cost than competitor products; the likelihood that the Company's innovative multiplex assay tests for six organisms with 16 signatures across only 3 reactions, providing a research, screening and monitoring tool that will save labs considerable time and money; and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "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 PositiveID's ability to launch and market the MBA, as well as certain 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 25, 2011, and 10-Q filed on May 13, 2011, 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.