Qualigen Inc has been named a finalist for The 2001 UCSD CONNECT Most Innovative New Product Award for its FastPack System, a proprietary blood testing system for performing rapid, quantitative immunoassay tests in physician office laboratories.

Qualigen's FastPack System consists of the FastPack Analyzer and the FastPack, a disposable, single-use test pack. The fully automated FastPack Analyzer is less than a cubic foot in size and features convenient, one-button operation. The FastPack is a multi-chambered plastic pouch that contains all of the chemical reagents needed for a single immunoassay test. To perform a test, the operator simply inserts a sample of the patient's blood into the FastPack and places the pack in the FastPack Analyzer, which automatically completes the test.

Physicians using the FastPack System obtain laboratory quality test results quickly and can begin treatment of serious medical conditions during the same office visit. The FastPack System is a fraction of the cost of larger laboratory analyzers, very easy to use and provides results in 15 minutes or less, depending upon the test.

Now in its 14th year, UCSD CONNECT's Most Innovative New Product Awards Program is the San Diego region's most prestigious annual competition that honors the vision, hard work, and perseverance that transform ideas and technologies into products. Past winners of the awards have included large local companies such as SAIC and Qualcomm, as well as smaller companies such as Digirad, ChemNavigator, and Ensemble Communications. By connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed, and business service providers with new technologies and business opportunities, UCSD CONNECT acts as a catalyst for the success of various emerging technology industries, as well as the San Diego community.

Commenting on the announcement, Michael S. Poirier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Qualigen stated, "We are honored to be named a finalist for this prestigious award, and to be recognized for our proprietary FastPack technology. With our patented FastPack System, we are meeting the market's need for an economical, rapid, automated system for performing immunoassay tests directly in the physician's office laboratory, thereby eliminating the delays associated with sending a patient's blood sample to an off-site laboratory for testing. Having recently introduced our 15 Minute PSA test, we are developing additional blood tests for use by physicians in the diagnosis of other serious medical conditions, such as various types of cancer, thyroid disorders, diabetes, infertility, infectious diseases, pregnancy, myocardial infarction and therapeutic drug monitoring. Early detection is crucial for the successful treatment of many medical conditions and our system is a great help to physicians in shortening the time from diagnosis to treatment."