News Release

For Immediate Release -- September 16, 2011

DoD Receives FDA Clearance for the JBAIDS: Influenza A/B Detection Kit and Influenza A Subtyping Kit

Fort Detrick, Md. -- The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity and the Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Management Office received FDA clearance of two integrated influenza A/B diagnostic tests for use by Department of Defense laboratories using the Joint Biological Agent Identification and Diagnostic System.

The Influenza A/B Detection Kit is used to test clinical samples for influenza A and influenza B viruses, two types of the virus that cause seasonal epidemic flu. The Influenza A Subtyping Kit will be used for the detection and differentiation of influenza subtypes A/H1, A/H3 and 2009 H1N1.

"These two influenza kits increase the DoD's readiness posture and testing capabilities for influenza and demonstrates CBMS's ability to develop diagnostic capabilities for emerging infectious diseases," said Col. Russell Coleman, USAMMDA commander. "The contributions and excellent teamwork among these agencies indicate the continued effort to address the National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats."

JBAIDS is a ruggedized diagnostic system that will provide medical professionals with a means of rapidly diagnosing infections in humans. The system will detect and diagnose both bacterial and viral diseases, including biological threat agents. More than 300 JBAIDS systems have been fielded to all Armed Services, including deployed units around the world.

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