Fayetteville, Arkansas — BioDetection Instruments, LLC has received a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research award from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for over $700,000 to advance the development of the company’s Aegis 2000 biosensor product line for rapid screening of avian influenza (AI) in poultry. The device will screen for all strains of AI in order to gain insight into the overall health of a flock. In addition, the device will screen for specific H5 and H7 subtypes of the virus. These two strains of AI can be highly pathogenic to poultry and can spread rapidly from flock to flock. The World Organization for Animal Health requires the random survey of flocks for H5 and H7 subtypes of AI and the culling of any flocks infected with these strains. Current methods for the identification of H5 and H7 AI in poultry take up to two days or more, and during this time delay, the disease can spread to other flocks. H5/H7 AI outbreaks in the U.S. and other countries have resulted in the eradication of millions of birds and in economic losses in the billions. The successful development of the Aegis 2000 will allow for greatly improved monitoring of AI due to a number of factors, including:
Rapid screening – test results in 2 hours or less
Portability and ease-of-use – shipping of samples to a centralized lab is not required with the Aegis 2000
Single-use, disposable cartridges – eliminates the possibility of cross-contamination between samples
Highly sensitive detection – detects infection prior to the onset of symptoms
Subtyping of H5 and H7 strains – identification of strains that can be highly pathogenic to poultry
For more information on BioDetection Instruments, LLC, check the website at www.biodetection-instruments.com/.
Contact: Calvin Goforth
PH: (479) 527-9763
VirtualIncubationCompany
