InnovaPrep

InnovaPrep LLC, a privately held company founded in 2009, operates from Drexel, Missouri, and is a key developer of tools that streamline sample preparation in microbiology. The company was established by CEO Dave Alburty and CTO Andy Page, both of whom brought extensive experience from their time at Midwest Research Institute (MRI), focusing on aerosol research and biodefense. Alburty, with a background as a research scientist at MRI and founder of AlburtyLab, identified a critical gap between bio-collection and rapid detection, which led to the creation of InnovaPrep. Page, a co-inventor of the company's concentration process, holds 33 patents related to microorganism collection and concentration.

The core of InnovaPrep's business is the manufacturing and sale of instruments and consumables for biological sample collection and concentration. The company serves a diverse client base that includes academic and research institutions, defense and public health laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and organizations focused on food safety and environmental quality. A significant portion of its business involves contracts with U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for applications like detecting aerosolized biological warfare agents. Revenue is generated through direct sales of its products, which include concentrating pipettes, large volume concentrators, and air samplers.

InnovaPrep's product line is centered around its patented Wet Foam Elution™ technology. This process addresses the common challenge of samples being too dilute for effective analysis. The technology uses a gentle wet foam to extract and concentrate microorganisms like viruses and bacteria from various sources—including air, water, and surfaces—into a small, analysis-ready liquid volume. This method can achieve concentration factors up to 10,000x, significantly enhancing the sensitivity of downstream analytical methods such as PCR and sequencing. The company's products, like the FluidPrep™ Concentrating Pipette System, are designed to handle sample volumes ranging from milliliters to hundreds of liters. In 2023, InnovaPrep acquired the assets of Clara Biotech, expanding its focus into the clinical diagnostics market, particularly for early cancer detection using exosomes found in bodily fluids.

Keywords: sample preparation, microbiology tools, Wet Foam Elution, particle concentration, bio-surveillance, aerosol sampling, pathogen detection, biodefense, environmental monitoring, microbial detection, sample concentration, liquid biopsy, exosome isolation, diagnostic technology, air sampling, water testing, food safety testing, life science research, biopharma solutions, public health laboratories