BioFire Diagnostics, Inc., today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 8,394,608 covering the company's FilmArray system.
FilmArray’s proprietary technology represents a significant advancement in user-friendliness and multiplex infectious disease testing capability for hospital clinical labs. This is the first U.S. patent issued to cover the FilmArray system, and BioFire has exclusive rights to the patented technology. Specifically, the patent covers methods for sample preparation and two-step multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a sealed container.
As part of the FilmArray system, BioFire has developed the FilmArray Respiratory Panel (RP), which rapidly detects nucleic acids in nasopharyngeal swabs obtained from individuals suspected of respiratory tract infections. Requiring only two minutes of hands-on time, FilmArray RP has about a one-hour turnaround time, and simultaneously tests for 20 viral and bacterial targets.
Additionally, BioFire is continuing to develop a broader test menu for its FilmArray system, including a Blood Culture ID Panel, Gastrointestinal Panel and a Meningitis Panel, with more patents expected in the future.
BioFire is excited to broaden its already extensive intellectual property portfolio, said Kirk Ririe, CEO of BioFire Diagnostics. We are confident this newest patent will provide exclusivity for our FilmArray system and methods.
About BioFire Diagnostics, Inc.
BioFire Diagnostics, Inc., formerly Idaho Technology, Inc., is a privately held clinical diagnostics company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Company manufactures and distributes the FilmArray RP, which operates on the user-friendly FilmArray system, to hospital-based clinical laboratories across the U.S. and EU. With the FilmArray RP, BioFire provides the only FDA-cleared clinical diagnostic test for eight of the 20 organisms in its panel. In addition, BioFire continues to broaden its FilmArray test menu, and is currently developing a Blood Culture ID Panel, a Gastrointestinal Panel, and a Meningitis Panel.
BioFire holds over 70 patents related to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and it has used its extensive patent portfolio to successfully market nearly 200 products to the clinical, research, and military markets. BioFire customers include the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, state and local law enforcement, and researchers and medical technicians across a spectrum of fields and industries.
