HHS Furthers Influenza Diagnostics Test with New Contracts; Robin Robinson Comments

The Department of Health and Human Services has respectively awarded $12.9 million and $14.7 million contracts to Alere and InDevR to further develop influenza detection test methods.

Alere will work to develop a method to identify a patient infected with influenza virus type A or B based on its iNAT Influenza A&B test, HHS said Wednesday.

InDevR will also continue work on its FluChip-8G test to detect seasonal influenza viruses within four hours in near-patient settings under a potential four-year contract with HHS.

“Administering fast and inexpensive tests at the point of care has tangible benefits to personal and public health, particularly in helping doctors prescribe the right therapy immediately,” said Robin Robinson, director of biomedical advanced research and development authority within HHS’ office of the assistant secretary for preparedness and response.

Both companies will also conduct clinical research in order to obtain the Food and Drug Administration‘s approval for their tests.

BARDA also develops other tests to identify drug resistance in influenza and seeks new vaccine technology.