Chembio Awarded CDC Contract for Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya Surveillance Testing in India, Peru, Guatemala and Haiti
28 September 2016 - 10:50PM
Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. (Nasdaq:CEMI), a leader in point-of-care
(POC) diagnostic tests for infectious diseases, today announced
that the Company has been awarded a $330,000 contract by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the purchase
of POC surveillance diagnostic assays for Zika, Dengue and
Chikungunya. Under the terms of the 12-month contract, Chembio will
provide its DPP® Zika IgM/IgG Assay, DPP® Zika/Chikungunya/Dengue
IgM/IgG Combination Assay, and DPP® Micro Reader to the CDC, for a
surveillance testing pilot program in India, Peru, Guatemala and
Haiti.
The Company’s DPP® Zika IgM/IgG and DPP®
Zika/Chikungunya/Dengue IgM/IgG Combination Assays detect
antibodies using a tiny (10uL) drop of blood from the fingertip and
provide quantitative results in 15 minutes, using Chembio’s
patented DPP® technology platform and handheld, battery-operated
DPP® Micro Reader.
John Sperzel, Chembio's Chief Executive Officer,
commented, “We are thrilled that CDC has chosen Chembio as a
partner in the fight against the Zika virus, and we look forward to
deploying our DPP® Zika IgM/IgG Assay, DPP® Zika/Chikungunya/Dengue
IgM/IgG Combination Assay and DPP® Micro Reader in India, Peru,
Guatemala and Haiti. Collectively, these four countries represent a
population of nearly 1.4 billion that is experiencing local
transmission of one or more of these mosquito-borne viruses. We
believe this pilot program will demonstrate the ability of our DPP®
assays to discriminate among the viruses, identify co-infected
patients, and limit the spread of these serious, life-threatening
diseases.”
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that was
first identified in Uganda in 1947. While there are cases of sexual
transmission of the Zika virus, it is believed that the virus is
primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected
mosquito from the Aedes genus, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus,
the same mosquitos that transmit Dengue, Chikungunya and Yellow
Fever. In January 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to
respond both to outbreaks of Zika occurring in the Americas and to
increased reports of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome in
areas affected by Zika. In February 2016, the World Health
Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of
International Concern (PHEIC) because of clusters of microcephaly
and other neurological disorders in some areas affected by Zika.
Since 2015, Zika outbreaks have been recorded in approximately 60
countries and territories, with symptoms similar to other arbovirus
infections such as dengue. Those symptoms include fever, skin
rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and
headache.
About Chembio
DiagnosticsChembio Diagnostics, Inc. develops,
manufactures, licenses and markets proprietary rapid diagnostic
tests in the growing $8.0 billion point-of-care testing
market. Chembio markets each of its DPP® HIV 1/2 Assay, HIV
1/2 STAT-PAK® Assay, and SURE CHECK® HIV 1/2 Assay, with these
Chembio brand names, in the U.S. and internationally both directly
and through third-party distributors. The Company's SURE
CHECK® HIV 1/2 Assay previously has been exclusively sold in the
U.S. as Clearview® Complete HIV 1/2 Assay.
Chembio has developed a patented point-of-care
(POC) test platform technology, the Dual Path Platform (DPP®)
technology, which has significant advantages over lateral-flow
technologies. This technology is providing Chembio with a
significant pipeline of business opportunities for the development
and manufacture of new products.
Headquartered in Medford, NY, Chembio is
licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and is certified for the
global market under the International Standards Organization (ISO)
directive 13485. Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc. is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. For more information,
please visit: www.chembio.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained herein that are not
historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking
statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or
current expectations of the Company and its management. Such
statements, which are estimates only, reflect management's current
views, are based on certain assumptions, and involve risks and
uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ
materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a
number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety
of factors, including, but not limited to Chembio's ability to
obtain additional financing and to obtain regulatory approvals in a
timely manner, as well as the demand for Chembio's products.
Chembio undertakes no obligation to publicly update these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that
occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in Chembio's
expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the
occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact
Chembio's success are more fully disclosed in Chembio's most recent
public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Contacts:
Chembio Diagnostics
Susan Norcott
(631) 924-1135, ext. 125
snorcott@chembio.com
Vida Strategic Partners (investor relations)
Stephanie C. Diaz
(415) 675-7401
sdiaz@vidasp.com
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