Micro Imaging Technology Inc (MMTC)

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Micro Imaging Technology, Inc.

April 29, 2016 10:44 ET

Northern Michigan University Research With MIT 1000 Garners Award

SAN CLEMENTE, CA--(Marketwired - April 29, 2016) - Micro Imaging Technology, Inc. ("MIT") (OTCQB: MMTC) -- The 2016 Celebration of Student Research competition at Northern Michigan University ("NMU") resulted in a first place Group Poster Award for research consequential to the collaborative effort between MIT and the NMU Department of Biology (see: http://www.nmu.edu/studentcelebration/2016-celebration-and-technology-photos#overlay-context=). Dr. Josh S. Sharp, assistant professor at NMU, his department, and his students have been spearheading a research program to develop clinical applications and methods for rapid identification of pathogens, particularly Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA,) using the company's MIT 1000 pathogen detection and identification system. Dr. Sharp and his students, along with Dr. Amit Morey of Auburn University, and Dr. David Haavig of MIT, developed a new sample preparation method that eliminates long culture plate growth periods and significantly reduces the pathogen detection and confirmation time to 6 hours or less, after the sample was taken from the patient, food sample or other initial target.

Annually, the NMU research competition recognizes exemplary student use of innovative technology associated with their academic studies. The award is designed to recognize essential uses of technologies in the academic environment. This year, working in Dr. Sharp's laboratory, undergraduate student and McNair Fellow, Nicole Shoup, received the first place Group Poster award for research using the MIT 1000 System and the new sample preparation method to specifically capture S. aureus from randomly contaminated milk samples in a controlled series of tests. She was then able to use the MIT 1000 System to rapidly identify which milk samples contained S. aureus in about a 6 hour time frame.

"Of the more than 90 submissions to this year's NMU event from 14 different academic departments with nearly 150 students participating, MIT could not be more pleased and proud that the work by Dr. Sharp and Ms. Shoup won top honors," said Jeff Nunez, President of Micro Imaging Technology. Heather Pickett, director of the McNair Program at NMU and organizer of the Annual Celebration of Student Research, said the following: "I am grateful to Micro Identification Technologies for their support in this endeavor, and to Dr. Josh Sharp for his work to bring about this collaboration at NMU. The partnership between Dr. Sharp's lab and MIT elevates the standard of scholarship at NMU and provides students with valuable experience in ground-breaking collaborative research."

The MIT 1000 is a rapid, bacterial cell-based detection and identification system that can identify pathogenic bacteria, now including S. aureus. In addition to this new Identifier, the MIT 1000 can also identify Listeria genus, Staphylococcus genus, Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis (S. Choleraesuis) and Enterococcus faecalis. All MIT 1000 System bacterial identification tests consist of a simple, chemical-free, very low-cost, one-minute sample preparation procedure and a two-minute average hands-off sample measurement.

About: Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, coeducational university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives and nationally recognized academic programs. The university's fastest growing academic areas are clinical science, biology, and the geographical and environmental sciences. Northern Michigan has a population of about 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers 180 degree programs, including 18 graduate programs.

About: Staphylococcus aureus.

S. aureus is a type of bacteria commonly found on the skin and hair as well as in the noses and throats of people and animals. These bacteria are present in up to 25 percent of healthy people and are even more common among those with skin, eye, nose, or throat infections. It is both a common clinical pathogen and a food contamination pathogen.

S. aureus can cause food poisoning when a food handler contaminates food and then the food is not properly refrigerated. Other sources of food contamination include the equipment and surfaces on which food is prepared. These bacteria multiply quickly at room temperature to produce a toxin that causes illness. Staphylococcus is killed by cooking and pasteurization.

S. aureus has long been recognized as one of the most important bacteria that cause disease in humans. It is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections such as abscesses (boils), furuncles, and cellulitis. Although most staph infections are not serious, S. aureus can cause serious infections such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, or bone and joint infections.

About: Micro Imaging Technology, Inc.

Micro Imaging Technology, Inc. is a California-based public company that is also registered to do business under the name Micro Identification Technologies. MIT has developed and patented the MIT 1000, a stand-alone, rapid, optically-based, software driven system that can identify pathogenic bacteria and complete an identification test, after culturing, in three (3) minutes (average) at the lowest cost per test when compared to any other conventional method. It does not rely on chemical or biological agents, conventional processing, fluorescent tags, gas chromatography or DNA analysis. The process requires only clean filtered water and a sample of the unknown bacteria. Revenues for all rapid testing methods exceed $5 billion annually -- with food safety accounting for over $3.5 billion, which is expected to surpass $4.7 billion by this year according to BCC Research. In addition, the recently passed "New" U.S. Food Safety Bill is expected to further accelerate the current annual growth rate of 6.6 percent.

In June 2009, the AOAC Research Institute (AOAC RI) awarded the Company Performance Tested Methods SM (PTM) certification for the rapid identification of Listeria. The AOAC RI provides an independent third party evaluation and expert reviews of methods and will award PTM certification to methods that demonstrate performance levels equivalent or better than other certified bacteria identifying methods. The MIT System underwent hundreds of individual tests, including ruggedness and accuracy, to earn AOAC RI's certification for the identification of Listeria.

You can find more information about our company and about Micro Identification Technologies™. Please visit our newly enhanced website at www.micro-identification.com.

This release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements are made based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to dependence on suppliers; short product life cycles and reductions in unit selling prices; delays in development or shipment of new products; lack of market acceptance of our new products or services; inability to continue to develop competitive new products and services on a timely basis; introduction of new products or services by major competitors; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; inability to expand our operations to support increased growth; and declining economic conditions, including a recession. These and other factors and risks associated with our business are discussed from time to time within our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, reference MMTC: www.sec.gov.

CONTACT INFORMATION


CONTACT:
Jeffrey Nunez
President and CEO
Email: [e-mail]
Web Site: www.micro-imaging.com
Telephone: [phone]