Smiths Detection Announces University of Maryland, Baltimore County Successfully Deploys BioFlash for Airborne Detection of SARS-CoV-2
13.4.2021 14:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies, today announces that its BioFlash® Biological Identifier has been successfully used by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) to identify airborne SARS-CoV-2 inside their campus in real-time at the point of testing.
As part of their mitigation strategy for COVID-19, UMBC’s Environmental Safety and Health (ESH) team have been using BioFlash across the campus. In one instance, the airborne detector was deployed to help the campus community safely re-enter a research facility after a person working there tested positive. After multiple tests performed on the BioFlash ruled-out the presence of airborne SARS-CoV-2, the ESH team deemed the facility contamination-free, allowing staff and students to safely return and research to continue without significant pause.
In a separate instance, in a collaborative effort with the UMBC Sports Medicine Department, a test conducted in a team locker room resulted in a positive environmental detection on the BioFlash. This detection ultimately led UMBC to test all people present for COVID-19, identifying three infected individuals. This helped prevent further spread of the virus.
“We are delighted to see what we believe is a world-first for our technology. BioFlash, with its real-time results capability, has been used by UMBC in a real-world setting to successfully confirm the presence or absence of COVID-19 in the air and inform health and safety protocols,” said Smiths Detection President Roland Carter. “We have been working incredibly hard to provide a tool that will support the ongoing fight against COVID-19, and these applications demonstrate the role BioFlash can play in virus mitigation strategies.”
“The BioFlash system has helped us to prevent the spread of the virus in our on-campus community. We are also pleased that this tool to protect the health and safety of people on our campus is easy to use and environmentally friendly,” said Lynne Schaefer, UMBC Vice President for Administration and Finance. “We will be using this solution as part of a larger mitigation strategy, alongside other important tools like sanitation, masks, regular testing, physical distancing, and symptom monitoring.”
BioFlash works by collecting and analysing air samples using sensitive, selective and rapid detection technology to identify the presence of dangerous pathogens onsite without the need to involve a laboratory. Following successful internal testing, Smiths Detection has been engaged in various external studies to further verify the SARS-CoV-2 detection capability, including working with the USAMRIID, which verified that BioFlash could identify SARS-CoV-2 in a laboratory setting.
The BioFlash Biological Identifier is available now.
ENDS
About BioFlash Biological Identifier
The BioFlash® Biological Identifier is a bio-aerosol collection and identification system that provides rapid, sensitive and specific identification of various pathogens including viruses, toxins and bacteria. The BioFlash has been commercially available for over 10 years and is currently used by US government and commercial clients for a number of applications.
About Smiths Detection
Smiths Detection, part of Smiths Group, is a global leader in threat detection and screening technologies for aviation, ports and borders, defence and urban security markets. Our experience and history across more than 40 years at the frontline enables us to deliver the solutions needed to protect society from the threat and illegal passage of explosives, prohibited weapons, contraband, toxic chemicals and narcotics.
For more information visit http://www.smithsdetection.com/
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005091/en/
Contact information
FTI Consulting:
Tom Hufton/Georgina Reeves
sc.smithsdetection@fticonsulting.com
+44 (0)20 3727 1000
Smiths Detection:
Sophie Mills
Communications Manager
sophie.mills@smithsdetection.com
+ 44 (0)7384236474
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
ICC Arbitral Tribunal Issues Quantum Award for AOP Health in BESREMi® Proceedings7.8.2026 20:48:00 EEST | Press release
An ICC Arbitral Tribunal has awarded AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals GmbH (“AOP Health”) a total of about EUR 112 Mio in a quantum award issued in the ongoing arbitration proceedings with PharmaEssentia Corp. (“PharmaEssentia”) concerning BESREMi® (ropeginterferon alfa-2b). The award quantifies AOP Health’s damage claims for PharmaEssentia’s intentional breaches at ca. EUR 82 Mio. It also awards AOP Health ca. EUR 31 Mio plus interest as reimbursement for AOP Health overpayments made to PharmaEssentia as a result of excessive pricing in the years 2019-2022. The Tribunal thereby confirmed that PharmaEssentia has been overcharging AOP Health by up to 900% over these years. The Tribunal affirmed AOP Health's valid set-off of the profit-sharing payments amount owed to PharmaEssentia of approximately EUR 17 Mio against AOP Health's substantially exceeding damages claims. This means that AOP Health shall not make any payment to PharmaEssentia. Interest on AOP Health’s claims will continue to accr
Coulson Aviation Canada Acquires 10 Former RCAF Hercules, Doubling C-130H Fleet7.8.2026 20:16:00 EEST | Press release
Coulson Aviation Canada, the Canadian division of Coulson Aviation, has acquired 10 former Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules aircraft from the Government of Canada. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260807019094/en/ Britton Coulson, left, and Wayne Coulson stand in front of one of 10 former Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules aircraft recently acquired by Coulson Aviation from the Government of Canada. At right is a Coulson C-130H outfitted for aerial firefighting with the company’s proprietary RADS-XXL retardant delivery system, capable of carrying up to 4,000 U.S. gallons, or more than 15,000 litres, of water or fire retardant. The acquisition doubles Coulson’s global C-130H fleet to 20 aircraft, expanding its capacity to build the world’s largest C-130 airtanker fleet. The acquisition doubles Coulson’s global C-130H fleet from 10 aircraft to 20 and gives its Canadian division the scale to build
Energy Vault Announces Strategic Agreement to Deploy 1.25 GW of Integrated Power Infrastructure for Hyperscaler AI Data Center with Leading Power Generation EPC Deploying Caterpillar Gensets7.8.2026 19:16:00 EEST | Press release
Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV) ("Energy Vault"), a global leader in sustainable energy infrastructure, today announced the execution of a strategic commercial agreement under which Energy Vault will supply battery energy storage systems ("BESS"), grid-forming power conversion systems and AI infrastructure controlsoftware to support an initial deployment totaling 1.25 gigawatts ("GW") of integrated power infrastructure for hyperscaler AI data centers. The agreement establishes a repeatable AI power infrastructure platform that combines dispatchable power generation, intelligent battery energy storage, grid-forming inverter systems, advanced AI infrastructure controls software and turnkey EPC and plant integration into a single integrated solution designed specifically for hyperscaler AI data centers and high-performance computing campuses. The companies will jointly deploy fully integrated, off-grid power systems capable of bringing AI compute capacity online significantly fas
SES Advances Next-generation MEO Strategy Following Successful Completion of IRIS² Rendez-vous 17.8.2026 11:52:00 EEST | Press release
SES today announced the successful completion of Rendez-vous 1 (RDV1) under the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) programme, marking a key milestone in the programme's implementation phase and reinforcing Europe's path towards sovereign, resilient and secure satellite connectivity. The successful completion of RDV1 confirms the programme's readiness to move forward with implementation and provides greater visibility on the long-term scope, performance and economics of the MEO segment. SES's expected capital commitment for the MEO segment is up to €1.35 billion, reflecting current programme scope, while maintaining the deployment of 18 MEO satellites and the targeted service entry in 2030. SES’s share of the investment in the IRIS² programme for 2026 is included in SES’s FY26 Capex outlook as previously communicated. No future exceptional cash proceeds will be used to fund the project. Since the signing of the IRIS² Concession Contract in
Allianz Delivers Record Result and Is Well on Track to Achieve Its Targets7.8.2026 08:10:00 EEST | Press release
2Q 2026 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260806509750/en/ Oliver Bäte, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE Total business volume at 45.6 billion euros, an internal growth of 5.7 percent1, with contributions from all segments. Asset Management delivers excellent growth. Operating profit rises 10.6 percent to a record level of 4.9 billion euros. Shareholders’ core net income at 2.6 billion euros; 12.7 percent below last year. Adjusted for a divestment gain last year and offsetting measures following the sale of the stake in our Indian JVs, underlying growth is strong at 10 percent. 6M 2026 Total business volume at 98.6 billion euros, an internal growth of 4.3 percent1, driven by Property-Casualty and especially Asset Management. Operating profit rises 8.6 percent and reaches a record level of 9.4 billion euros. Shareholders’ core net income advances 15.5 percent to 6.4 billion euros. Adjusted for divestment eff
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom