DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PositiveID Corporation (“PositiveID” or “Company”) (OTC:PSIDD), ExcitePCR subsidiary today announced publication of a report co-authored by its chief science officer (CSO), Kimothy Smith, DVM, Ph.D., for the U.S. Dept of Defense-sponsored Homeland Defense & Security Information Analysis Center.
The report describes the potential dangers of a bioterrorism event and explains why rapid, patient-side diagnostics may be the most important defense against the deliberate introduction of plant or animal disease into U.S. agriculture to generate collective fear, cause economic loss, and undermine social stability.
Key high-threat bioagents are “zoonoses,” infectious diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans, like rabies, anthrax, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus.
The report further states quick deployment of user-friendly diagnostics is critical to successful containment of an agroterrorism event.
Prior to his move to the private sector in 2008, Dr. Smith was the Senior Advisor for International Biodefense for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Health Affairs. In that role he served as detailee to the Office of International Health & Biodefense of the U.S. State Department.
During this period, as an expert specialist he coordinated biodefense and emergency response strategies with international partners and facilitated dialogue on food safety and agricultural security. He also served as Acting Director of the National Biosurveillance Integration Center.
PositiveID’s ExcitePCR subsidiary is developing the FireflyDX family of products to provide automated, real-time pathogen detection at the point of care/point of need (POC/PON), faster and less expensively than existing devices.
FireflyDX's onsite pathogen detection applications are expected to include human clinical, such as infectious disease, and hospital acquired infections, global food and agricultural screening, and biological warfare and biothreat defense.
About PositiveID Corporation
PositiveID Corporation is a life sciences tools and diagnostics company with an extensive patent portfolio. PositiveID develops biological detection and diagnostics systems, specializing in the development of microfluidic systems for the automated preparation of and performance of biological assays. PositiveID is also a leader in the mobile technology vehicle market, with a focus on the laboratory market and homeland security. For more information on PositiveID, please visit http://www.psidcorp.com, or connect with PositiveID on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
On August 24, 2017, PositiveID Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary PositiveID Diagnostics, Inc. (collectively, the “Seller”), entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (“APA”) with ExcitePCR Corporation. Pursuant to the APA, at closing, the Seller will sell and deliver to ExcitePCR all assets used in connection with the operation of the FireflyDX technology. For more information on the APA, please read PositiveID’s Form 8-K filed on August 28, 2017, which can be found here.
Statements about PositiveID's future expectations, including the likelihood that PositiveID’s FireflyDX family of products will provide automated, real-time pathogen detection at the point of care/point of need (POC/PON), faster and less expensively than existing devices; the likelihood that FireflyDX's onsite pathogen detection applications will include human clinical, such as infectious disease, and hospital acquired infections, global food and agricultural screening, and biological warfare and biothreat defense; constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and PositiveID's actual results could differ materially from expected results. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the Company’s ability to raise capital; the Company’s ability to complete the development, testing and commercialization of FireflyDX; the Company’s ability to close the APA with ExcitePCR; as well as other risks. Additional information about these and other factors that could affect the Company's business is set forth in the Company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in the Company's 10-K filed on April 2, 2018, and 10-Qs filed on November 13, 2017, August 14, 2017, and May 15, 2017, under the caption "Risk Factors." The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.