CPHD - Cephid (CPHD)

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Cepheid GeneXpert(R) System Receives Department of Homeland Security Certification
Wednesday March 22, 7:00 am ET
SAFETY Act Designation Makes GeneXpert Biothreat Solutions More Accessible to Organizations Across the United States


SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD - News), a broad-based molecular diagnostics company, announced today that it has received both certification and designation of the GeneXpert® technology as Qualified Anti-terrorism Technology (QATT). GeneXpert is now listed among products approved by the Department of Homeland Security and is granted coverage under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology Act known as the SAFETY Act.
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The SAFETY Act encourages the development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies that will substantially enhance the protection of the nation. The Act reflects the intent of Congress to ensure the threat of liability does not deter potential sellers from developing and commercializing technologies that could significantly reduce the risk or mitigate the effect of terrorist acts. It creates certain liability limitations when QATTs have been deployed but does not limit liability where an act of terrorism has not occurred.

"All Cepheid suppliers, vendors, and customers benefit from the protection of SAFETY Act Certification knowing that the GeneXpert System meets the government's most stringent standards for biothreat technology," said Cepheid Chief Executive Officer John Bishop. "The GeneXpert technology has been demonstrated to be an accurate and effective solution to meeting varying needs in the potential detection of biothreat agents."

Cepheid's GeneXpert is the world's only system to combine sample preparation with real time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification and detection -- delivering fully-integrated and automated DNA analysis. The system purifies, concentrates, detects and identifies targeted nucleic acid sequences, delivering answers from unprocessed samples in minutes. Current techniques for performing the same complex sample prep and PCR procedures involve skilled technicians in microbiology labs performing manual tasks that can take more than a day to complete. No specialized facilities or highly skilled laboratory training is required to operate the GeneXpert System.