Commercializing a new quick test for mad cow disease

Exclusive worldwide sales, marketing and distribution agreements between Genesis Bioventures, Inc., (GBI) and Prion Developmental Laboratories Inc. (PDL) means that recently patented Rapid Prion-Detection Assay tests will move into the market faster.

The technology is designed to test for prion diseases, such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (mad cow disease). The Assay is an easily used rapid test strip to be administered by trained personnel at slaughterhouses. Results are produced in less than 30 minutes.

Greg McCartney, GBI's Chairman, notes that, "Approximately 145 million cattle are slaughtered in the top 16 beef producing countries alone. It is also imperative from countries like Canada who export a majority of their beef, and countries like Japan who import a majority of their beef to demonstrate the safety of their products. The cost and time effectiveness of the PDL test could allow for all animals to be tested, which would ensure food safety with very little added cost to the industry and the end consumer." More information is available at www.gnsbio.com.