11 December 2019 - - US-based molecular diagnostics company Co-Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CODX) has launched its Vector Smart NAM-e (North American Mosquito-East) multiplex test, which detects the eastern equine encephalitis virus among mosquito populations, along with West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis, the company said.

EEE is a mosquito-borne disease that kills roughly one-third of those infected and typically leaves survivors with "mild to severe brain damage" according to the CDC. 2019 brought an unexpected surge in cases of EEE in the US, more than 5 times the average, and the 36 confirmed cases across 8 states resulted in 14 deaths.

Mosquito populations are tested, monitored, and controlled by over 1,000 MADs (mosquito abatement districts, publicly funded departments at the city, county, and state level) in North America.

The company has been presenting its mosquito diagnostic products to MADs at vector control conferences across the country this year.

Revenue from the company's mosquito abatement vertical began earlier in 2019, and is expected to significantly increase as demand grows for the NAM-e and other tests to help provide a first-line of defense against the spread of certain mosquito-borne illnesses.

Like the other tests in the company's Vector Smart line of PCR products, the NAM-e test was validated using extractions from mosquito samples rather than humans and includes an extraction control specifically for mosquitoes, to reduce the possibility of a false negative result due to an improper extraction.

The company's NAM-e test is similar to its Vector Smart NAM-w multiplex assay for WNV, SLE and western equine encephalitis, but identifies EEE instead of WEE.

Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation, is a molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures and markets a new, state-of-the-art diagnostics technology.

The company's technology is utilized for tests that are designed using the detection and/or analysis of nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA).

The company also uses its proprietary technology to design specific tests to locate genetic markers for use in industries other than infectious disease and license the use of those tests to specific customers.