Specific Technologies Detects and Identifies Potential Bioterrorism Pathogenic Bacteria

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Specific Technologies, today announced the publication of results of the first study demonstrating detection of pathogenic bacteria, including potential bioterrorism agents such as Yersinia pestis and Bacillus anthracis which feature on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's list of potential bio-threats. This seminal study, conducted in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury (DSTL), United Kingdom, researchers reported 100% bacterial identification accuracy at inoculum concentrations as low as 8 colony-forming units. The study also demonstrated a simple method to differentiate strains of the same species, including 5 strains of Yersinia pestis and Bacillus anthracis.

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Current standard practice for identification of pathogenic bacteria requires completion of a culture and then requires additional time consuming molecular or chemical analysis. Specific Technologies has developed a system for identifying microorganisms from their metabolic signature during culture saving precious hours during potentially deadly incidents.

In the event of a suspected release, a rapid and reliable method to identify potential bioterrorism agents would allow a faster public health response. Current bacterial identification methods can be slow and require highly trained personnel to operate sophisticated instruments that are generally too expensive, delicate, or bulky to deploy outside of a dedicated laboratory facility.

Ray Martino a founder and COO of Specific Technologies, commented, "Microorganisms produce a complex mixture of volatile metabolites unique to their species and strain. Specific Technologies has developed a system for identifying the species and strain from their metabolic signature during culture, saving the delay and cost of molecular or chemical methods that follow culture"

Mr. Martino continued, "The Specific Technologies sensor is small and disposable. The instrumentation is no more than what is found in common smart phones enabling the use of the solution in the field."

The publication in PLOS ONE http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0062726 is now available.

About Specific Technologies

Specific Technologies has developed in vitro diagnostic systems for rapid identification of microorganisms to diagnose infections that lead to serious medical conditions including sepsis. The company's unique, patented, metabolomic signature technology identifies microorganisms during culture growth before existing technologies based on molecular or chemical tests can be deployed resulting in faster diagnosis with less labor and no additional instruments. Specific Technologies is located in Mountain View, CA.

For additional information on the Company, please visit www.specifictechnologies.net

Media Contact: Anders Berliner, Specific Technologies, 561-659-5400, aberliner@specifictechnologies.com

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SOURCE Specific Technologies