Luminex, Smiths Detection Nab Homeland Security Contract

Luminex Corp., an Austin, Texas-based provider of biological testing technologies, announced it has received a subcontract from Smiths Detection for research in detecting acts of bioterrorism. Smiths Detection, a developer of chemical, biological and explosives detectors and x-ray security screening equipment, is one of four operating divisions of Smiths Group, based in Edgewood, Md. The award originates from the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) as part of its Low-Cost Biological Agent Detection System (LBADS) program. Luminex will work as a subcontractor to Smiths Detection to develop an early warning "trigger" sensor to detect the presence of weaponized biological pathogens in ambient air. Patrick Balthrop, president and CEO of Luminex Corp., said, "The LBADS 'trigger' sensor is designed to serve as the front end to a comprehensive biodetection system, in which the trigger provides early warning of a possible attack, followed by a confirmatory sensor subsequently determining actual species identification."