Smiths Detection, a global leader in detection and screening technologies, today confirmed that it has completed the acquisition of PathSensors, leading biotechnology solutions and environmental-testing company, based in Baltimore, MD, USA.

The acquisition strengthens Smiths Detection’s biological-detection capabilities to detect pathogens for broad end-market applications, including in food and agriculture safety.

“We are pleased to be able to complete this acquisition, which we view as a significant strategic step in accelerating how we are able to respond to biological threats, which are becoming increasingly relevant in the current environment,” said Roland Carter, President Smiths Detection. “PathSensors has developed such a capability – with its multiple threat assays already available, it is able to identify biological threats in minutes and will provide a suitable biological capability to our customers.”Smiths Detection, part of Smiths Group, is a global leader in threat detection and screening technologies for aviation, ports and borders, defense 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. 

PathSensors is a leading biotechnology solution and environmental testing company providing high-speed, high-sensitivity pathogen detection and threat prevention solutions. PathSensors’ solutions can detect a wide range of threats, including anthrax, ricin, Ebola, Salmonella, Phytophthora, Ralstonia, and many more.

Recently Smiths Detection also announced that it has collaborated with Attomarker Ltd, a multiplex blood-testing technology company spun out of the University of Exeter, to help produce a robust and accurate COVID-19 antibody-testing device that could represent an evolution in rapid and precise COVID-19 antibody testing. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has already approved Attomarker’s Triple Antibody Test for NHS use in the UK.

The Smiths Detection team has been working alongside Attomarker since April on the design and performance of the device and has manufactured 10 pre-production units, with the ability to ramp up volume according to demand.

Attomarker’s Triple Antibody Test device is a portable, desktop, antibody-testing device designed to provide laboratory-standard results in any environment. It delivers rapid, accurate, quantitative results in just seven minutes – compared with up to 72 hours for tests that require to be sent away for laboratory analysis.

The result of a trial at St Thomas’ Hospital in London – published this week in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal Analyst – shows that the Attomarker Triple Antibody Test delivers a sensitivity of up to 96% in detecting COVID-19 antibodies, including in patients who have previously presented false negatives.1 This is a significant improvement on recently announced tests, which range between 83.9% – 93.9% – though not with real-world patients.2,3

A developer and manufacturer of leading-edge threat-detection equipment for security industries, Smiths Detection frequently partners with companies and governments to develop equipment that is both highly accurate in the detection and offers the highest standard of technical performance.

Commenting on Smiths Detection’s involvement in the project, Smiths Detection President Roland Carter said: “The Smiths Detection team was able to take the current designs of the existing product and make enhancements that will contribute not only to its improved performance and robustness but also the ease at which it can be produced.

“The success we have seen so far in this project is a testament to the high-standard research that the team is able to achieve, but also its agility and flexibility to pick up a project and deliver results. Not just from the perspective of our engineers and scientists, but also in terms of the supply chain, manufacturing and quality.”