Luminex Corp. [LMNX] has disclosed that it is collaborating with Northrop Grumman [NOC] on the development of the Next Generation-Autonomous Detection System (NG- ADS), the automated bio-detection platform that Northrop Grumman is developing for potential government customers. Northrop Grumman is one of two companies selected by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Health Affairs (OHA) to provide prototypes for testing under phase 1 of the next-generation BioWatch system called Gen-3 (TR2, Nov. 25, 2009). Officials from both companies declined to discuss whether the collaborative effort is part of Gen-3. Luminex is supplying its detection system, called xMAP technology, as part of the collaboration. The technology allows for the multiplexing of various assays within a single sample so that the system can test for multiple pathogens simultaneously. Northrop Grumman says that xMAP can be expanded to accommodate new bio-agents. Luminex says it can multiplex up to 100 organisms on a single sample. Luminex has more than 7,000 placements of its instruments globally, mostly in laboratory environments. A team lead by United Technologies [UTX] was awarded a separate Gen-3 contract by OHA.