Affymetrix developing biothreat test chip

Oct. 20, 2004 – Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq: AFFX, News, Web) said it is using $2.1 million in federal funding to develop a microarray-based test for rapid detection of biological threats, according to a news release.

The biodefense array, funded by a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is expected to offer a single-step test to simultaneously identify genetic fingerprints for bacterial and viral species, as well as others selected from the institute’s high-priority pathogen list.

The test is designed to detect pathogens in four hours, compared with up to four days with traditional lab equipment. Researchers expect to have a prototype array in three months, and a commercially available product in three years.

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