SAN DIEGO, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesa Biotech, Inc., a privately-held, molecular diagnostic company that has developed and commercialized a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) based, point-of-care testing platform designed specifically for detecting infectious diseases, today announced it has been awarded an additional $13 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to accelerate the development, and FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) submission, of its new multiplex panel for SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A and Influenza B. Mesa Biotech's Accula™ SARS-CoV-2 Test has been available under FDA EUA since March 2020. The Accula system is a highly mobile, easy-to-use, molecular point-of-care platform that produces PCR test results within about 30 minutes. The new multiplex panel will run on the existing Accula platform and is expected to aid in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, while simultaneously differentiating between infections with Flu A and Flu B. "The ability to detect and differentiate between these common respiratory viral infections will be critical to managing the upcoming flu season, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," said Ingo Chakravarty, President and CEO of Mesa Biotech. "We are grateful for BARDA's continued support in the development of this important new diagnostic test." The development of the new multiplex panel is funded in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under contract number 75A50120C00050. About Mesa Biotech, Inc. Mesa Biotech designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes next generation molecular diagnostic tests, bringing the superior diagnostic performance of nucleic acid PCR amplification to the point-of-care. Mesa Biotech's Accula™ platform allows healthcare professionals to access actionable, molecular diagnostic information at the point-of-care with a rapid, easy-to-use, PCR test. Mesa Biotech has received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for its Accula SARS-CoV-2 Test. For more information visit mesabiotech.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mesa-biotech-to-receive-additional-13-million-from-us-health-and-human-services-to-develop-30-minute-sars-cov-2--flu-aflu-b-test-301167977.html SOURCE Mesa Biotech, Inc.