Internal Sample Preparation, Small Size and Rapid Results Differentiate the FireflyDX Systems, says ExcitePCR’s CEO, Lyle Probst, During a BioWatch Panel
Pleasanton, Calif. and Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) September 19, 2017 -- One of the biggest barriers to delivering rapid care during an biological outbreak is about to be eliminated, said Lyle Probst, President, CEO and Founder of ExcitePCR™.
When asked what makes ExcitePCR’s FireflyDX™ technologies different than other pathogen detection solutions, Probst said, “Sample preparation takes place inside our FireflyDX systems, which means our customers can go from sample capture to answer in 30 minutes or less. On top of that, the FireflyDX devices are small, portable PCR-based units which can be used virtually anywhere around the world. These are just some of the things that set our pathogen detection systems apart from other solutions.”
Later Probst explained, “The reason why this is important is because whenever we experience the beginnings of an outbreak, such as Zika or Ebola or influenza or any other biohazard, rapid identification of who is or isn’t infected is crucial to delivering proper treatment and minimizing the spread of an infectious disease. But one of the biggest barriers to delivering rapid care is (and always has been) preparing samples so they can be tested, quickly and accurately. And this is especially a problem in the field at the Point-of-Care/Point-of-Need. This is the issue we address with our new FireflyDX technologies.”
Probst delivered a brief presentation and answered questions late yesterday afternoon as a member of a BioWatch panel discussion about current and future advancements in pathogen detection systems that was hosted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NAS). Officially titled “Novel Technologies to Expand Capabilities,” the panel discussion was held from 3:30—4:30 p.m. (ET) on Monday, September 18, 2017 at NAS in Washington, D.C.
The panel was part of a two-day BioWatch workshop on Strategies for Effective Biological Detection Systems.
Panel participants shared several insights on recent advancements in the pathogen detection field that had recently come to market or were on the near horizon. Case in point, Probst pointed to ExcitePCR’s FireflyDX technology platform that utilizes a patented microfluidic-based cartridge that incorporates on-board sample preparation as part of ExcitePCR’s Polymerase Chain Reaction-based pathogen detection systems.
“We’ve already shown in-lab comparability to the ABI 7500 with our FireflyDX for pathogens ranging from MRSA to Swine Flu, as well as when detecting other bio-threats like anthrax or when looking for the presence of genetically modified foods (GMOs),” Probst said. “The difference the FireflyDX products will deliver is the ability to incorporate sample prep within the entire PCR process. This allows caregivers, first responders, animal health workers and others to have extremely accurate results within 30 minutes or less from the moment of sample capture to PCR-derived results.” {NOTE: Thermo Fisher Scientific’s ABI 7500 is viewed by most industry professionals as the “gold standard” for benchtop-based PCR testing.}
For example, Probst explained, ExcitePCR’s FireflyDX technologies have been evaluated and/or tested for pathogen detection by a number of client organizations and partners, including:
- As a “Performer” with ENSCO and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology SenseNet Program, with the FireflyDX selected as the “designated SenseNet confirmation detector,” a program that just completed Phase II A;
- GenArraytion which demonstrated that the breadboard prototype of the FireflyDX accurately and rapidly detected the Zika virus using GenArraytion’s PCR assay for Zika;
- A Pilot Study with seqID that utilized the FireflyDX to accurately test for the presence of GMO corn and soybean at concentrations ranging from 10.0 to 0.0 percent, a Pilot Study that generated comparable results to those produced by the ABI 7500, test results shared via “Invited Presentations” to the
- Analytic Excellence through Industry Collaboration (AEIC),
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); and by an
- Independent third-party laboratory that conducted a comprehensive on-site review and evaluation of the FireflyDX’s technologies, capabilities and accuracy, a that concluded that ExcitePCR’s pathogen detection system performed comparably to the ABI 7500.
Last month ExcitePCR announced a FireflyDX family of portable pathogen detection systems, led by its FireflyDX-Portable™, a rechargeable bookbag-sized realtime pathogen detection system the company says will be commercially available in summer 2018. In addition, ExcitePCR also announced that it plans commercial availability in 2019 for a smaller pathogen detection device that can be held in a single hand, a system the company has named the FireflyDX-Handheld™.
About ExcitePCR
Headquartered in Pleasanton, California, ExcitePCR Corporation is developing portable realtime pathogen detection systems based upon superior sample preparation and realtime PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) methodologies. Its FireflyDX technologies will deliver rapid automated Point-of-Care/Point-of-Care (POC/PON) sample preparation and highly accurate biohazard identification in a fraction of the time currently possible using existing PCR-based solutions.
ExcitePCR, FireflyDX, FireflyDX-Portable and FireflyDX-Handheld are each trademarks of ExcitePCR Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: David Politis, dpolitis(at)excitepcr(dot)com, C: 801-556-8184
David Politis, ExcitePCR, http://www.excitepcr.com, +1 801-556-8184, [email protected]
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