Cepheid Shares Jump 10.8 Percent After Anthrax Detected at Military Post Offices; Firm Stresses its Tech Not Used

NEW YORK, March 15 (GenomeWeb News) - Shares in Cepheid climbed 10.8 percent, or $1.03, to $10.54 in late-afternoon trading on news this morning that sensors at two US Defense Department mailrooms detected the bacteria that cause anthrax on two pieces of mail.

However, Cepheid stressed in an SEC filing today that its technology was not used to detect the bacteria.

Cepheid to date has installed more than 1,000 of its GeneXpert PCR-based modules -- including 300 new ones this January -- to detect anthrax at US Postal Service facilities.

Cepheid's GeneXpert PCR technology is being used with Biohazard Detection Systems developed by Northrop Grumman's Security Systems to detect biological threats for the USPS. The company's January placement of 300 modules is part of the second phase of the project, with modules set to be installed in April.

Cepheid is currently shipping and installing 800 GeneXpert modules that were ordered for the first phase of the project.