DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 14, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PositiveID Corporation ("PositiveID" or the "Company") (OTCBB:PSID), a developer of medical technologies for diabetes management, clinical diagnostics and bio-threat detection, announced today that it is expanding its biological detection capabilities to include the detection of H5N1, or avian flu, amid signs that a mutant strain of the deadly bird flu virus is spreading overseas. Through its MicroFluidic Systems ("MFS") subsidiary, PositiveID has the biological capability to detect virtually any virus, bacteria or toxin in an environmental or clinical environment.
PositiveID is completing a test to rapidly and cost-effectively identify the mutant strain of H5N1 and expects to have its laboratory development completed in the fourth quarter of this year. The Company has created and proven both highly modular, smart, "plug and play" components and integrated solutions for practical, high utility biological analysis applications. Its products are able to rapidly process complex samples with a high level of sensitivity and accuracy.
William J. Caragol, PositiveID's CEO, said, "Our biological sample preparation and detection platform is highly adaptable, and the process of expanding our detection capabilities to test for new viruses and bacteria can be accomplished in a very short period of time. Therefore, not only can we be ready very quickly to test for this mutant strain of bird flu, but we can be ready for future outbreaks, whether it is swine flu or some other pandemic virus. Our unique solutions reduce costs, increase reliability and produce timely results, which is of critical importance when diagnosing pandemic viruses to improve outbreak containment measures."
The United Nations is urging people to be ready against a possible but major resurgence of the avian flu. The H5N1 virus has infected 565 people since it first appeared in 2003, killing 331, according to World Health Organization figures. Since 2003, H5N1 has killed or forced the culling of more than 400 million domestic poultry and caused an estimated $20 billion of economic damage across the globe before it was eliminated from most of the countries infected at its height in 2006. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the few avian influenza viruses that have crossed the species barrier to infect humans, the mutant strain of bird flu has caused the largest number of detected cases of severe disease and death in humans.
About PositiveID Corporation
PositiveID Corporation develops unique medical devices and biological detection systems, focused primarily on diabetes management, rapid medical testing and airborne bio-threat detection. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, MicroFluidic Systems, is focused on the development of microfluidic systems for automated preparation of and performance of biological assays. For more information on PositiveID, please visit www.PositiveIDCorp.com.
| The PositiveID Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7717 |
Statements about PositiveID's future expectations, including its ability to expand its biological detection capabilities to include the detection of H5N1, or avian flu, amid signs that a mutant strain of the deadly bird flu virus is spreading overseas; the likelihood that through its MFS subsidiary, PositiveID has the biological capability to detect virtually any virus, bacteria or toxin in an environmental or clinical environment; the likelihood that the Company is completing a test to rapidly and cost-effectively identify the mutant strain of H5N1 and expects to have its laboratory development completed in the fourth quarter of this year; the likelihood that the Company's biological sample preparation and detection platform is highly adaptable, and the process of expanding its detection capabilities to test for new viruses and bacteria can be accomplished in a very short period of time; the likelihood that not only can the Company be ready very quickly to test for this mutant strain of bird flu, but it can be ready for future outbreaks, whether it is swine flu or some other pandemic virus; the likelihood that the Company's unique solutions reduce costs, increase reliability and produce timely results, which is of critical importance when diagnosing pandemic viruses to improve outbreak containment measures; the likelihood of a possible but major resurgence of the avian flu; and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "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 the ability of the Company's products to rapidly process complex samples with a high level of sensitivity and accuracy; the ability of the Company to develop biological detection capabilities for avian flu; as well as certain 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 March 25, 2011, and 10-Qs filed on May 13, 2011 and August 15, 2011, 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.
All trademarks are property of their respective owners.