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IQuum Awarded U.S. Department of Homeland Security Contract for Development of Food Assay Sensor System Allston, MA, March 29, 2006 – IQuum Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a Phase I contract by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advanced Research Project Agency (HSARPA) to develop a Food Assay Sensor System (FASS) for bio-defense applications. Under the contract funded by HSARPA’s Food Biological Agent Detection Sensor (FBADS) program, IQuum will apply its lab-in-a-tube technology to the detection of microbial and toxin threats in the food system, with a focus on liquid substrates. "This Phase I FBADS award reaffirms the versatility of IQuum’s proprietary lab-in-a-tube technology for rapid, fully-automated, and easy-to-use biological sample testing,” said Dr. Shuqi Chen, CEO of IQuum. “We look forward to applying this technology to securing the nation’s food supply, as well as other applications in bio-defense and clinical diagnostics.” The Liat™ FASS development will leverage IQuum’s Liat™ system designs in combination with its innovative multiplexed agent detection methods. In Phase I, IQuum will lead a team of industry and government collaborators to demonstrate the capability to sensitively and rapidly detect several toxin and microbial targets from large volume liquid food samples using its Liat™ Analyzer. IQuum envisions that the Liat™ FASS will comprise a customized FASS analyzer, test cartridge, and assays that will enable non-technical personnel to simultaneously detect multiple bioagents in food samples. Once developed, the system will be considered for deployment in food manufacturing and processing facilities in order to provide advanced strategies to protect individuals from exposure to biological agents and reduce contamination of critical food supply infrastructure. 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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