PositiveID Detects Ebola on Its Firefly Dx Prototype System

PositiveID (OTCQB:PSID) announced it detected the Ebola Virus on its Firefly Dx breadboard pathogen detection system.
As quoted in the press release:

In a collaborated effort with assay partner GenArraytion Inc., ExcitePCR successfully detected the Ebola virus on the Firefly Dx prototype system. The Ebola virus was tested at a low number of copies via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the amplification curves demonstrated a cycle threshold (Ct) of 21. The automated runs successfully synthesized cDNA using a proprietary reverse transcriptase (RT) step and then completed a 40-cycle PCR to produce the results.
Rapid detection and diagnosis of the Ebola virus infection along with vaccination is imperative to quickly containing an epidemic. Ebola is an RNA virus and requires a RT step prior to PCR. Despite its potential diagnostic advantages, RT-PCR methodology (both conventional and real-time approaches) typically requires significant laboratory infrastructure, electrical power, multiple temperature-sensitive reagents, the operation and maintenance of specialized equipment, and technical expertise in molecular biology, potentially complicating deployment in resource-limited settings.

Click here to read the full press release.

Source: www.accesswire.com