Attometrics, Inc. develops and commercializes technology for detecting biomarkers to identify potential cancers and infectious diseases. The company sells an automated, multiplexed detection system that can handle high sample throughput to detect and identify groups of biomarkers for cancer and infectious diseases. The firm's patented technology quickly detects proteins, DNA and metabolites of interest in smaller amounts than is possible with current methods. The time-to-results is as little as 30 minutes as compared to one to six days for standard analyses. The companys new STEC-DX (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli diagnostics) provides rapid screening for infection by E. coli O157:H7 and other bacterial strains that produce deadly Shiga toxin proteins. Infection by as few as 10 cells of STEC can be fatal due to the effects of the Stx1 and Stx2 toxins, which are not always produced by the bacteria. The worst effects of the toxin can be avoided if treated within 24 hours of infection. Attometrics STEC-DX is the only method capable of directly detecting the presence of such small amounts of toxin within that timeframe.
