PositiveID Corporation has produced a new and upgraded version of the Firefly Dx PCR breadboard prototype pathogen detection system, which now incorporates real-time optics for pathogen detection in less than 20 minutes. The inclusion of real-time optics on the Firefly Dx prototype system enables the measurement of fluorescence with every cycle of the PCR process, which is used to understand the amount of pathogen present, and produces an "S-shaped" curve that can be identified. The S-shaped curve helps first responders and healthcare professionals understand the quality of the test being performed and to quantify the amount of pathogen present in the sample, both of which are important in determining next steps (such as quarantine measures) following a positive result. This latest development advancement also enables the Company to run its own and third-party assays directly on the Firefly Dx prototype system, without the need to use a commercial instrument for confirmation of results. "This new prototype system is a big step forward in the development of a commercially available Firefly Dx unit as we move to capture a portion of the multi-billion dollar real-time PCR market," said William J. Caragol, Chairman and CEO of PositiveID. "By incorporating real-time optics into our system, we can begin to measure the presence of a pathogen in real-time, which is an integral component of the Firefly Dx value proposition."