IGEN supplies botulinum toxin tests to USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has purchased a botulinum toxin test from IGEN International, Inc., for an expansion of its homeland security food safety program. The botulinum toxin test is one of several IGEN biological-agent detection tests based on the proprietary ORIGEN[R] technology, designed for the detection of Category A and Category B biological agents, including agents such as anthrax and Staphylococcus enterotoxin B, among others. IGEN's tests are utilized in a wide variety of homeland security and biodefense initiatives.

Botulinum toxin is one of the most poisonous substances found in nature. A quantity of toxin with the weight of a paper clip could kill one million people.

"Biological toxins, particularly botulinum toxin, pose one of the most serious threats to the safety of our nation," said Samuel J. Wohlstadter, chairman and chief executive officer of IGEN.

IGEN continues to work closely with other U.S. government agencies on biodefense and homeland security, including numerous departments within the U.S. Department of Defense. New ORIGEN-based tests, including the botulinum toxin test, also are expected to be commercially available to nongovernment customers.

For more information, contact IGEN, 16020 Industrial Dr., Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; Web site: www.igen.com.