17 May 2013 - Rapid diagnostic tests company Chembio Diagnostics Inc (NasdaqCM:CEMI) reported on Thursday the launch of a follow-on, milestone-based development agreement with a private contracting organisation for a multiplex, rapid, POC influenza immunity test utilising the former's patented Dual Path Platform (DPP) technology.

The private contracting organisation can enter into, implement and provide technical oversight of agreements relating to pandemic preparedness on behalf of its client, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for a multiplex, rapid, POC influenza immunity test.

This USD472,000 agreement contemplates a period of approximately six months, or May through to October of 2013, in which the follow-on development activity is to be completed.

Pursuant to previous contracts, the early prototype development work for this product was successfully completed by Chembio with the same organisation totalling approximately USD1.4m.

Additionally, Chembio's new follow-on project will further develop a rapid influenza immunity test that can determine a person's influenza immunity status in the field or in an outpatient setting, while incorporating certain additional subunits of influenza virus proteins.