14 April 2008

The Scout^TM was exhibited and well received at the 2008 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) at the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, USA on April 10-12. 

15 September 2006

A new weapon in the fight against bioterrorism

Hand-held technology capable of detecting anthrax spores and other bacterial spores within minutes is being taken to the international marketplace by the University of Canterbury’s commercial arm, Canterprise, and venture capital firms Endeavour i-Cap and Ngai Tahu Equities.

The lightweight, portable Veritide bacterial spore detector is about the size of a large coffee mug and is the result of work by Associate Professor Lou Reinisch from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Canterbury.

Tests have found the technology to be 99 percent accurate and capable of producing a result within minutes.

The product will be marketed by Veritide Limited, a new Christchurch start-up company developing biological identification and detection equipment.

Veritide Chairman, Neville Jordan, who is also the president of Endeavour Capital, says current spore detection technology is complicated and time-consuming, resulting in lengthy detection times and reduced reliability.

“The fact that this technology is hand-held, portable, easy to use, fast-working and very reliable makes us very excited about its potential.”

He says the optical technology in the Veritide device detects the physical characteristics of spores, providing rapid on-site information for critical decision-making.

“Let’s say in the case of a white powder incident, where there is concern that a powder that has fallen out of an envelope could be anthrax, then this technology could be placed over the powder and would determine within minutes whether it is anthrax or something harmless.”

Mr Jordan envisages the technology will attract interest from emergency and security services, and the military. Interest is also expected from the food processing industry.

“Testing the quality of milk powder is one example of the potential in this area. At the moment, it would take three days to conduct quality testing. This technology could be installed at a processing facility and provide results pretty much instantly.”

Canterprise CEO Dr John Chang says the Veritide detector is a good example of the potential that can be realised when universities and venture capitalists work together.

“This highlights that when good university research and smart money combine, great investment opportunities are created.”

Graeme King, General Manager of Ngai Tahu Equities, agrees.

“We believe the spore detection technology from the University of Canterbury represents an exciting and promising investment opportunity, and Ngai Tahu Holdings is proud to announce this investment in Veritide.”

15 September 2006

New Zealand launches into the war on bioterrorism

The clean green shores of New Zealand might seem like an unlikely place for a company to enter the war on bioterrorism. However, Veritide Limited is a new Christchurch start-up company in biological identification and detection equipment.

Based upon technology developed in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Canterbury, the first product is a hand-held detector that can identify bacterial spores in a matter of minutes. The process is optically based using a proprietary optical recognition protocol. 

Veritide has the financial backing of Endeavour iCap and Ngai Tahu Equities. The Chairman of the Board is Neville Jordan, the Chair of Endeavour Capital. 

How important is a bacterial spore detector? There are hundreds of white powder incidents each week in the world. A white powder incident is when an unknown substance spills from an envelop or is discovered in a building. There is no simple, rapid test that first responders can currently use to rule out the possibility that the powder contains anthrax spores. In most instances, the powder is sent to a laboratory where the identification process can take three days. “Three days is too long for someone potentially exposed to anthrax spores to wait. If someone is exposed to anthrax, treatment should begin immediately. It is the goal of Veritide to provide this crucial information to protect everyone.” according to Neville Jordan.

“Our bacterial spore detector is as simple to use a torch.” explains the inventor, Lou Reinisch. “Our target is a device that can be used while wearing a hazardous material suit and does not destroy the sample to permit further testing. Our approach to spore detection is unique.”

The technology has applications in medicine and food processing in addition to bioterrorism. Veritide sees a line of products that will be developed and built in New Zealand. “We intend to be known as a company that provides security and peace-of-mind.” adds Neville Jordan.

Biosecurity has always been important to New Zealand, so the broader scope of Veritide to develop a full range of biological detection and identification products is a natural fit.