Biodefense

The Sherlock® System has been Awarded FDA 510 (k) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Clearances for the Confirmatory Identification of Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)

In January 2006, the Sherlock System was awarded
FDA 510(k) Clearance for the confirmatory identification of Bacillus anthracis, the anthrax pathogen.

This comes after the Sherlock System received U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Clearance in late 2004 via AOAC INTERNATIONAL (Method # 2004.11) for confirmation of
Bacillus anthracis.

For more information, please Contact MIDI.

The MIDI Sherlock® Microbial Identification System (MIS) is a dual-use system that identifies the 6 major bacterial agents of bioterrorism as well routine clinical and environmental bacteria. It doesn't just sit on the shelf until a bioterrorism attack occurs. Rather, it is a laboratory-based system that can be used on a routine basis to identify commonly-isolated bacteria from clinical and environmental sources, while at the same time proactively screening for potential agents of bioterrorism. Suspicion of a bioterrorism agent is not required for effective use of the system.

The Sherlock Bioterrorism Library was the result of collaboration between MIDI and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID at Fort Detrick, MD).

Available since late 2000, the MIDI Bioterrorism libraries has been provided free of charge to qualified MIDI customers as a public service.

The Sherlock Bioterrorism Library is robust and includes peer-reviewed references for each of the following entries (disease names):

Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
Brucella melitensis (Brucellosis)
Burkholderia mallei (Glanders)
Burkholderia pseudomallei (Melioidosis)
Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)
Yersinia pestis (Plague)
15 challenge organisms

The Sherlock MIS has several advantages over traditional methodologies:

In addition to 6 major bacterial bioterrorism agents, the system identifies over 1,500 species of bacteria
Dual-use microbial identification system
Accepted technology in major clinical and military labs
Average sample processing time less than 10 minutes
Extensive data analysis tools including strain tracking
Bacteria killed in first extraction step
Common reagents

In addition, the Sherlock Bioterrorism Library is provided free of charge to all qualified current Sherlock users and with the purchase of a new system.

For more information, please Contact MIDI.