Private investor Michael Song, who is president Shanghai Qi Fa Electronics Co. in China, is providing funding for the system in the US.
He will also partner with the firm to expand market penetration in China of its surface and airborne detection systems.
PathSensor Zephyr detects foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, E.coli, Listeria and Campylobacter in dry foods, meats and on food preparation surfaces.
The firm is working with the USDA and FDA to identify pathogens in poultry and plant materials.
Song said it is the only technology platform available that can detect air, surface and liquid based pathogens, within minutes in the field.
“In China alone, I foresee tremendous opportunities in helping food processors cope with bird flu and Salmonella with onsite sample testing in minutes.”
Products use the CANARY (Cellular Analysis and Notification of Antigen Risks and Yields) technology, licensed from the MIT-Lincoln Laboratory.
CANARY has pathogen-specific antibodies on the biosensor surface, which trigger bioluminescent proteins.
The biosensor in the presence of a pathogen binds surface bound antibodies triggering an intracellular calcium release, which activates the bioluminescent proteins and generates the emission of light.