PositiveID’s subsidiary MicroFluidic Systems (“MFS”), a developer of molecular diagnostic systems, announced today it will present its M-BAND (Microfluidics-based Bioagent Autonomous Networked Detector) system at the 10th Annual American Society for Microbiology (“ASM”) Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting, to be held February 26-29, 2012, in Washington, DC at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. PositiveID will jointly exhibit M-BAND with The Boeing Company and Hamilton Sundstrand.
M-BAND, developed under contract for the Department of Homeland Security by MFS, is an early warning system designed to detect the intentional release of aerosolized biological agents. It runs autonomously for up to 30 days, continuously analyzing air samples, typically in high-traffic areas, for the detection of bacteria, viruses, and toxins with results in as little as three hours. Results from individual M-BAND instruments are reported via a secure wireless network in real time to give an accurate and up to date status for fielded instruments in aggregate. Designed with a high level of operational flexibility, M-BAND can be remotely set to detect for DNA-based pathogens alone, with or without either RNA-based organisms or toxins, or for all three types of pathogens simultaneously at remotely programmable intervals.
According to the ASM, approximately 1,000 leaders and decision makers in the field of biodefense will participate in the Biodefense and Emerging Diseases conference to discuss the critical research necessary to defend against the growing threat of bioterrorism and shape the future of the biodefense research agenda.
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