Spokane, WA – August 9, 2005 – GenPrime, Inc., the leading developer of rapid, broad spectrum screening systems for use in bio-warfare defense, announced today that it has entered into a multi-year agreement that gives Scott Health & Safety, a part of Tyco Fire & Security, exclusive rights to distribute the Prime Alert Biodetection System to the worldwide first responder market. Scott will supply and support the Prime Alert Biodetection System to first responders as a tool to analyze suspicious substances on “white powder” calls, where speed and accuracy are critical in determining whether or not a foreign substance is harmful.
“We developed the Prime Alert Biodetection System to help mitigate the costs and fears associated with potential bioterrorist threats. The sooner results can be obtained, the sooner the community can be informed and a plan of action determined.” said Johnny Humphreys, CEO of GenPrime, “We are excited about our new relationship with Scott, not only because of its reputation in the fire services, but its commitment to providing quality products.”
The Prime Alert Biodetection System is the only first response biodetection tool that offers a broad-spectrum Microbe Screen™ combined with Botulinum and Ricin Toxin Screens. Unlike other tests that check for specific microbes such as anthrax, the Prime Alert Microbe Screen detects the presence of suspicious levels of all microbes, including the 13 high priority weaponizable agents listed by the Centers for Disease Control. The Prime Alert System allows the responder to verify, in less than 10 minutes, whether an unidentified powder is a potential biological threat or a harmless nuisance. The Prime Alert Biodetection System is used by hazmat teams throughout the U.S. and abroad and has recently been deployed nationwide by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“When first responders respond to a call about a suspicious powder, normal operating procedure requires the deployment of an entire HAZ-MAT Response Team. This requires employing the resources of numerous firefighters and other first responders, closing of streets and buildings, and costing thousands, sometimes millions in commerce and resources,” says Luanne Freund, Scott Health & Safety Marketing Manager, “With the use of Prime Alert Biodetection System, first responders can quickly mitigate the alarm by determining the biological risk factors of the unknown substance – on-site – before deploying the full HAZ-MAT response.”
Portability, ease-of-use and the ability to determine whether or not a substance is harmful in less than 10 minutes are features that enable the kit to be deployed in any situation – Prime Alert Biodetection System provides this capability in a simple, complete package. The Prime Alert Biodetection System is available through Scott Health & Safety’s Authorized Portable Instrument Distributor network.
Scott Health & Safety, a business unit of Tyco International’s Fire & Security segment, is a premiere manufacturer of innovative respiratory and other personal protective equipment and safety devices for firefighters, industrial workers, police squads, militaries, homeland security forces, and rescue teams around the world. With five global manufacturing locations, Scott produces products that protect thousands of individuals each day from environmental hazards including smoke, toxic fumes, combustible gases, falling objects, and contaminants. The Scott product line includes self-contained breathing apparatus, supplied air and air-purifying respirators, gas detection instruments, head, face, eye and hearing protection, decontamination showers, and safety signs and markers.
GenPrime, Inc., located in Spokane, WA, specializes in the development of rapid microbial screening tests designed to detect biological substances in the field. The company is committed to becoming the leading provider of advanced testing technologies for a secure and healthy world.
Contact: Buck Somes GenPrime, Inc. 509-624-9855 bsomes@genprime.com