Molecular Circuitry to sell Detex pathogen detection system direct to food industry

Molecular Circuitry, Inc. has announced that it will now sell its Detex Pathogen Detection System direct to the food industry and other markets in North America. The system was previously marketed through distributor channels.

``This change in marketing strategy will allow us to lower the price of the system and more aggressively pursue our sales targets in the food industry,'' said Herbert Lotman, president of Molecular Circuitry, Inc. ``From the start, Molecular Circuitry has had the expertise and technical background to educate potential buyers about the unique advantages of the new system. Now, by dedicating new resources, we can deploy a direct sales force to actively take the Detex message to the many companies that can benefit from this revolutionary technology.''

The Detex system is a self-contained, automated testing instrument that tests for contaminants in meat, poultry and other types of perishable food. Detex can simultaneously test for multiple pathogens, such as E.coli O157 (including H7), Salmonella and Campylobacter and Listeria.

The system consists of the MC-18 instrument, disposable pathogen-specific test cartridges and disposable reagent packs. Each MC-18 instrument has a carousel capable of accepting up to 27 cartridges and 9 reagent packs. The reagent packs contain all the reagents and buffers needed to perform the tests and have a shelf life of approximately six months with refrigeration. The cartridges are made of injection molded plastic, with 6 electrical resistors pre-attached to each cartridge. They are designed to work with a sample volume of 150 µl.

The MC-18 instrument is "bar code" compatible and designed to be LIMS system compatible. As the tests are performed, the instrument's computer system records all of the data relating to the testing procedures and the results of the test. The results can then be printed out on-site (via customer-supplied printer), accessed remotely through a network computer system and stored for future use on a standard size computer disk for an indefinite period of time (when copied from system software disk).

Molecular Circuitry Inc., a science-based biotech company headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, designs and manufactures automated instruments and assay kits for the rapid detection of pathogenic organisms. For more information contact the company at 3400 Horizon Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406. Tel: 1-877-77DETEX.

Edited by Pam Ahlberg