Benzinga | Jun 2, 2021 09:01AM EDT

Applied DNA Reports Its Clinical Labs Subsidiary Secured safeCircle Pooled COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Contract With Camp Chateaugay, No Terms Disclosed

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:APDN) (Applied DNA or the "Company"), a leader in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based DNA manufacturing, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Applied DNA Clinical Labs, LLC (ADCL), has secured a safeCircle(tm) pooled COVID-19 surveillance testing contract with Camp Chateaugay, an overnight summer camp program for teens and kids based in New York's Adirondack Mountain region. The acquisition of safeCircle's newest client reflects the service's focus on profitable niche markets for COVID-19 testing and the re-opening of venues for sales opportunities in which routine COVID-19 pooled surveillance testing would lower the risk of virus spread as vaccinated and under-vaccinated populations come into close contact.

Pooled surveillance testing of all campers will be conducted prior to the start of each of two summer sessions and once on-site. Samples will be collected via anterior nasal swabs that offer ease-of-use for all ages. Aggregate testing results will be reported to the director of the summer camp via safeCircle's integration with CLEARED4, the Company's pooled surveillance testing program partner, through CLEARED4's smartphone-based online health safety management and reporting solution. Testing will be conducted from mid-June through end-July.

Camp Chateaugay Director Mitch Goldman, stated, "This year, camp administrators are being called upon to navigate local, state, and Federal health guidelines, as well as best practices established by camp associations, in implementing COVID-19 safety protocols as part of camps' reopening and continuing operations strategies. In safeCircle, we have a partner who can help us navigate these complex waters while giving us the surety of a PCR-based COVID-19 test."

Mike Munzer, executive director of Diagnostic Sales at Applied DNA, stated, "The pandemic disrupted what is an annual ritual for our youth, but as restrictions are relaxed, we are heartened to see summer camps re-open having put in place a thoughtful and layered approach to maintaining healthy environments and operations that is grounded in COVID-19 testing. safeCircle's high-touch pooled surveillance testing service that is backstopped by our highly sensitive, highly specific PCR test can offer camp administrators, staff, campers, and parents greater peace of mind this summer."