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IQuum Awarded Phase II Bio-defense Contract from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Allston, MA, March 29, 2006 – IQuum Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a Phase II contract by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advanced Research Project Agency (HSARPA) to continue development of its sophisticated bioaerosol monitoring system for bio-defense applications. Under the contract, IQuum will produce and supply prototypes of its Liat™ Bioagent Autonomous Networked Detector (BAND), a "detect-to-treat" system for round-the-clock, distributed monitoring of outdoor urban areas for bacteria, viruses and toxins. The contract award follows the successful completion of a Phase I HSARPA BAND contract in December 2005. "We are excited about continuing the development of the Liat™ BAND system, and look forward to delivering this sophisticated tool to better protect our citizens from biological threats,” said Dr. Shuqi Chen, CEO of IQuum. “Indeed, the award of this Phase II BAND contract validates the considerable potential and versatility of our lab-in-a-tube technology for biological sample testing.” IQuum's Liat™ BAND system combines proven technologies in a novel form and introduce a powerful new method for multiplexed agent detection. The system consists of two components: a disposable cassette containing all reagents necessary for one month's operation in a fully-enclosed format, and an analyzer responsible for air-sampling, disposable manipulation, detection, and real time reporting. Tailored for the BAND system, the Liat platform enables rapid, sensitive, and fully automated biological sample testing. Under this project, IQuum will also complete the development of a common assay format to unify toxin and microbial detection for the monitoring of multiple agents at the same time. Once developed, the BAND system will be considered for deployment in thousands of public areas including airports, government buildings, and commercial complexes, and will protect against potential bioterrorism by detecting the presence of airborne bioagents. About IQuum, Inc. IQuum, based in Boston, Massachusetts, is the leader in developing lab-in-a-tube technology, a novel biological sample testing platform which provides revolutionary benefits to a broad cross section of the bioassay market. The Company's proprietary technology enables the non-specialized personnel to perform more sophisticated biological sample testing in any setting with greater speed. Founded in 1998, the Company is commercializing its lab-in-a-tube technology and products for the clinical diagnostics, bio-defense, and industrial testing markets. For more information, please visit www.IQuum.com.
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