US Government Labs To Introduce Israeli Viral Detection Platform 

Laboratories at the US government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) are deploying an Israeli platform to test for viral outbreaks as part of its pandemic preparation plan established in 2021.  

The B-Matrix platform, developed by Rehovot-based startup Picodya, is an in vitro test that allows for detection of viral outbreaks and mass monitoring of a population’s immune status. 

The platform is expected to help the NIH create a preemptive catalog of immunobiological countermeasures in the event of another global viral pandemic such as COVID-19.  

B-Matrix conducts multiple tests on fluids drawn from the body at the same time,  and is being introduced at research facilities worldwide in order to reduce diagnostic timelines and the costs involved in testing. 

It is expected to also be introduced as a test conducted by healthcare providers. 

“With our knowledge of the devastating impact of COVID-19 on global health and following years of research collaboration with the NIH for crisis preparedness, we are proud to proceed with the next phase of this important partnership,” said Tzvika Barkai, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Picodya. 

“We remain dedicated to enabling timely, precise and comprehensive disease diagnosis capabilities to optimize potential outcomes. We plan to introduce the B-Matrix solution to additional research labs across the US, followed by the broader clinical market.”