Freeze-Dried Reagents for real-time PCR

"The Idaho Technology RAPID is currently the only fieldable DNA-based system available for monitoring threat agents such as Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis. It has been deployed throughout the Air Force and other branches of the military with a highlevel of operational success. Typical PCR methods used with the RAPID are tied to complex wet chemistry more suitable for the laboratory than field environments. Our Phase I effort was directed at demonstrating that these reagents can be produced in afreeze-dried, stable format, allowing sensitive PCR methods to be used in non-laboratory environments and significantly increasing the ease of use of the RAPID system. We have successfully shown the feasibility of producing reagents in a freeze-dried formwith extended stability and no loss of performance. Idaho Technology is now in a position to provide the Air Force with a complete system that includes both the chemistry and the instrumentation required for monitoring biowarfare agents in any environment.The tasks outlined in the Phase II effort will improve upon the foundations laid down in Phase I by developing methods for scale-up of the process, and implementing a quality system that will be necessary for eventual commercialization."