U.S. funds blood-screening system

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HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted a Canadian company for a rapid, multiple blood-screening test for use before emergency blood transfusions.

MedMira Inc.'s Multiplo Rapid HBV/HIV/HCV Antibody Test screens for HIV, Hepatitis B and C simultaneously in 3 minutes from a single drop of blood.

The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity contract is worth more than $4 million. It has a two-year base performance period and a single 10-month option.

"We are thrilled to receive this new contract from USAMRAA for the development and commercialization of our Multiplo test," said Hermes Chan, chief executive officer of MedMira Inc. "This contract award demonstrates the excellent fit between MedMira's technology and products and military requirements."

The U.S. Army will also fund development costs and associated fees to obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration pre-market approval for the product, which will be supplied by MedMira directly to the U.S. Army and to other customers.

"A multiplexed test for transfusion transmitted diseases provides an enabling technology that will be used to mitigate risk in austere environments where emergency blood collections are necessary to save lives of severely wounded warfighters," said Col. Richard Gonzales, product manager, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity.