European Humanitarian Group Orders Rapid HIV Tests From BICO Subsidiary - Rapid HIV Detection Corporation
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The world appears to be gravitating toward Pittsburgh-based BICO, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BIKO) and their subsidiary, Rapid HIV Detection Corp. One week after Walter Reed Army Institute of Research placed their second order of InstantScreen(TM) Rapid HIV tests, an order for 1,000 tests has come from a European procurement group.
TRANSFER SC, a procurement and logistics cooperative that supports humanitarian organizations, ordered the InstantScreen tests to be shipped to Brussels, Belgium. TRANSFER was created by the international humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders, which provides medical aid in more than 80 countries. MSF provides free and anonymous testing for HIV and offers psychological help and follow-up care.
InstantScreen delivers the results of the HIV test in 5-30 seconds. In documented studies by Walter Reed Army Institute; Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra Ghana; World Health Organization; and the National Institute for Virology in South Africa, InstantScreen has proven to be 100% accurate, showing 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity.
BICO has the exclusive worldwide marketing rights to the test, which was developed and is manufactured by the German American Institute for Applied Research (GAIFAR) in Potsdam, Germany.
InstantScreen is being marketed outside the US while GAIFAR goes through the process of seeking FDA approval. The purchase by the Belgium group is viewed as an important milestone since it could open the door for international relief agencies to become familiar with and use InstantScreen as their test of choice.
InstantScreen requires no special medical training, no extra equipment and needs no refrigeration, therefore it is perfect to screen large populations in areas such as Africa, India, South America, the Caribbean and Asia, where HIV/AIDS is rampant.
BICO has its corporate offices in Pittsburgh, PA and is involved in the development and manufacture of biomedical devices and environmental solutions. Subsidiary Rapid HIV Detection Corp. is also located in Pittsburgh, PA US, Washington, DC US, United States and Accra, Ghana Africa.
This press release contains statements of a forward looking nature. Shareholders and potential investors are cautioned that such statements are predictions and actual events or results may vary significantly. |
