Early Warning expects to launch its water analyzers in late 2008. The early warning systems are configured to detect the presence of both common and rare strains of microorganisms associated with waterborne illnesses including E. coli (general and O157:H7), Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and various waterborne bacteria and viruses. Water agencies, food & beverage companies, industrial plants, hospitals, airlines, and recreational water facilities could use the portable and wireless water analyzers without needing a laboratory or technicians.
Early Warning has an exclusive license from NASA to commercialize its revolutionary nanotechnology-based biosensor developed for space applications. The biosensor works when a single strand of nucleic acid comes into contact with a matching strand of nucleic acid attached to the end of an ultra-conductive nanotube. The matching strands form a double helix that generates an electrical signal which is used to determine the presence of specific microorganisms in the sample. Because of their tiny size, millions of nanotubes can fit on a single biosensor chip allowing identification of very low levels.
Early Warning and NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley have entered into a Space Act Agreement to develop biosensor enhancements over the next 5 years.