LexaGene Holdings Inc (TSX-V:LXG, OTCQB:LXXGF) announced that its MiQLab automated rapid pathogen testing device has successfully completed tests for biothreat agents including anthrax and plague as part of a research agreement with the US Army.
MiQLab was used on reagents from the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense’s (JPEO-CBRND) Joint Project Lead for CBRND Enabling Biotechnologies (JPL CBRND EB) Defense Biological Product Assurance Office (DBPAO) to successfully detect biothreat agents such as Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis in under a minute, the company said.
“In this evaluation, the system’s open-access feature was highlighted by having the system run DBPAO’s own PCR reagents to detect Bacillus anthracis spores and Yersinia pestis cells, which cause anthrax and plague, respectively,” LexaGene CEO Jack Reagan said in a statement.
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“Through a series of studies, the Chemical Biological Center evaluated the system’s sensitivity (limit-of-detection) for detecting the two bio-threats, as well as the system’s quantitative detection capability (linearity) and risk of carryover contamination,” he added.
Specifically, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center) evaluated the MiQLab System for biothreat detection as part of a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA).
Beverly, Massachusetts-based LexaGene is a molecular diagnostics company that develops molecular diagnostic systems for pathogen detection and genetic testing for other molecular markers for on-site rapid testing in veterinary diagnostics, food safety and for use in open-access markets such as clinical research, agricultural testing, and biodefense.
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