AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 15--Luminex Corporation, a leading multiplex solution developer, today announced that the Company has received a sub-contract from Smiths Detection, for research related to detecting acts of bio-terrorism. Smiths Detection is a leading global provider of chemical, biological and explosives detectors and X-ray security screening equipment. The award comes from the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) as part of their Low-Cost Biological Agent Detection System (LBADS) program. In this program, Luminex will work as a sub-contractor to Smiths Detection to develop a very low-cost early warning "trigger" sensor to detect the presence of weaponized biological pathogens in the ambient air.
"The LBADS 'trigger' sensor is designed to serve as the front end to a comprehensive bio-detection system, in which the trigger provides early warning of a possible attack, followed by a confirmatory sensor subsequently determining actual species identification," said Patrick Balthrop, president and chief executive officer of Luminex Corporation. "The Smiths team approach is to design and develop an optically-based trigger sensor, utilizing our corporate expertise in optical detection technologies to meet the very demanding cost, performance, and reliability goals set forth by HSARPA in the LBADS program.
"We are very pleased to have been awarded the sub-contract through Smiths, providing Luminex with important opportunities to leverage our state-of-the art technology and increase our market awareness within the government sector," added Balthrop. "This program demonstrates our strategy to offer total solutions to the government for defending against bio-terrorism. This opportunity will also make us more competitive for future research grants that utilize our systems and technology."
Smiths Detection is one of four operating divisions of Smiths Group. Based in Edgewood, Maryland, Smiths Detection-Military continues its 50 year history of providing the military with a range of products that protect armed forces. Smiths Detection offers technologically advanced security solutions to detect and identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons and contraband. Employing trace detection technology together with Smiths Heimann X-ray imaging, Smiths Detection provides screening solutions for customers in civil and military markets worldwide. For more information visit: www.smithsdetection.com.
Luminex Corporation develops, manufactures and markets proprietary biological testing technologies with applications throughout the life sciences industry. The Company's xMAP(R) system is an open-architecture, multi-analyte technology platform that delivers fast, accurate and cost-effective bioassay results to markets as diverse as pharmaceutical drug discovery, clinical diagnostics and biomedical research, including the genomics and proteomics research markets. The Company's xMAP technology is sold worldwide and is in use in leading research laboratories as well as major pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies. Further information on Luminex Corporation or xMAP can be obtained on the Internet at www.luminexcorp.com.
