MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, Oct. 7, 2008 -- Based on its recent analysis of the U.S. biological detection market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes JMAR Technologies Inc. with the 2008 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Product of the Year. Through continuous online monitoring and automated response within seconds, the company's BioSentry™ Water Monitoring System is quickly changing the way that water is treated, distributed, and protected; thereby keeping the nation's most precious resource safe from both accidental and intentional biological contamination.
Monitoring water supplies for deadly threats is a difficult task since familiar biological analytical methods, such as immunoassays and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), focus on results from random grab samples, not real time detection. The water industry has had to depend on tedious manual sampling followed by laboratory analysis to check for pathogens or biological agents. Though accurate, laboratory analysis is a slow process -- in some cases taking up to 72 hours to deliver results. In the event of a biological attack on a municipal water supply, waiting up to three days for test results could be devastating, affecting thousands of people and potentially resulting in death.
The BioSentry™ is a completely different waterborne biological detection solution. The system utilizes laser-produced, multi-angle light scattering (MALS) to detect the signatures of microorganisms and determine, within seconds, if a water supply is contaminated. While the BioSentry™ is not a replacement for laboratory analysis, the system's real-time detection capabilities allow it to serve as a complementary technology that could save lives in the event of a waterborne biological event.
"As terror plots continue to become more sophisticated, water treatment plants and the water supplies of high priority facilities across the country are increasingly at risk of being contaminated," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Lindsay Voss. "JMAR Technologies is one of the only companies in the U.S. to develop a system capable of continuously monitoring for dangerous microorganisms in treated water."
With a compact and rugged design, the BioSentry™ is easy to install into most water delivery systems. Once installed, the system can serve two purposes: immediate detection of pathogens at contamination warning levels, and continuous monitoring for anomalies in the water supply. To ensure that the BioSentry™ satisfies contamination detection levels, the system has been successfully evaluated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which found that it detects waterborne pathogens measurably better than any of the other devices tested.
Unlike other products that are designed to test only for deadly biological contamination, the BioSentry™ monitors for water quality as well. By monitoring for natural occurring flora in treated drinking water, the system automatically tracks changes that could indicate deteriorating water quality. Customers are already seeing the added value of the BioSentry™, as major municipalities have purchased the system in 2008.
"As a result of the system's continuous monitoring capabilities, the BioSentry™ is considered to be a disruptive technology throughout the water security industry," notes Voss. "Water analysis processes that once took days can now be completed within a matter of seconds."
The system also has great potential for use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and manufacturing industries. Any process that relies on treated, uncontaminated water presents a possible market place for the BioSentry™. Further, it is an ideal solution to provide continuous, on-line water monitoring at high-risk facilities, such as the Pentagon, U.S. embassies, and military installations.
Overall, the BioSentry™ Water Monitoring System has positioned JMAR Technologies to take advantage of the growing water security market. In recognition of this achievement, Frost & Sullivan is pleased to present the company with the 2008 Product of the Year Award in the U.S. biological detection market.
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in new product development and launch within its industry. The recipient company has shown innovation by launching a broad line of emerging products and technologies.
Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.
JMAR Technologies Inc. is a leading innovator in the development and commercialization of sensing systems for the detection of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) materials.
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth.
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