Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., a leader in point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, today announced that it has entered into a follow-on, milestone-based development agreement with a private contracting organization acting on behalf of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for a multiplex POC influenza immunity test utilizing Chembio's patented Dual Path Platform (DPP®) technology.
As a result of pandemic planning activities, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CDC identified POC and high-throughput testing as a gap in influenza diagnostics. Rapid responses in the field — such as the vaccination, prophylactic treatment or isolation of patients — require POC diagnostic tests for influenza infection and immunity. Ideally, these tests should be fast, portable, self-contained and non-technical.
John Sperzel, Chembio's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to continue with this development program, which builds upon our experience and expertise developing multiplex POC assays using our proprietary DPP® technology, and we are pleased that the CDC and its contracting partner continue to see value in our DPP® technology. Our innovative and versatile DPP® technology is ideally suited to rapidly test for multiple influenza immunities, where rapid access to this information can guide treatment decisions and help avert widespread outbreaks."
The prior development work for a DPP® Influenza Immunity Assay was completed by Chembio between 2010 and 2013, pursuant to previous contracts with the same organization. The current project is being funded by the same organization and contemplates a timeline of three months to optimize the multiplex POC DPP® Influenza Immunity Assay to determine a person's influenza immunity status in the field or in an outpatient setting, while incorporating certain additional subunits of influenza virus proteins.
As a result of pandemic planning activities, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CDC identified POC and high-throughput testing as a gap in influenza diagnostics. Rapid responses in the field — such as the vaccination, prophylactic treatment or isolation of patients — require POC diagnostic tests for influenza infection and immunity. Ideally, these tests should be fast, portable, self-contained and non-technical.
John Sperzel, Chembio's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to continue with this development program, which builds upon our experience and expertise developing multiplex POC assays using our proprietary DPP® technology, and we are pleased that the CDC and its contracting partner continue to see value in our DPP® technology. Our innovative and versatile DPP® technology is ideally suited to rapidly test for multiple influenza immunities, where rapid access to this information can guide treatment decisions and help avert widespread outbreaks."
The prior development work for a DPP® Influenza Immunity Assay was completed by Chembio between 2010 and 2013, pursuant to previous contracts with the same organization. The current project is being funded by the same organization and contemplates a timeline of three months to optimize the multiplex POC DPP® Influenza Immunity Assay to determine a person's influenza immunity status in the field or in an outpatient setting, while incorporating certain additional subunits of influenza virus proteins.