UHN and SQI Diagnostics Successfully Test New Technology to Assess Lung Health During Transplant

New procedure reduces testing time by 70%, leading to better patient outcomes

TORONTO, June 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - SQI Diagnostics Inc. ("SQI" or the "Company"), – University Health Network (UHN) together with its partner SQI Diagnostics Inc. have performed the first successful tests of a groundbreaking procedure that reduces the time to assess lung health from over three hours to less than 50 minutes.

"Integrating rapid diagnostics gives transplant teams the means to more accurately assess the health of donor lungs," said Dr. Shaf Keshavjee, Director, Toronto Lung Transplant Program. "Time-to-result is key because it can provide critical information on donor lung health to a surgeon before transplant begins — and I must say, we are very encouraged by the results so far."

The TORdx™ LUNG is a proprietary research-use assay co-developed by the Toronto Lung Transplant Program at UHN and life sciences and diagnostic company SQI Diagnostics. The assay gives transplant surgeons an indication of lung health by measuring certain biomarkers of the donor organ throughout the lung transplantation procedure.

Using these biomarker results, a score is generated based on an algorithm developed by UHN called the Toronto Lung Score, which was recently announced at the ISHLT conference in April 2019. This helps the surgeon determine if the lung is suitable for transplant — reducing negative outcomes, organ rejection, lengths of stay in the ICU and improving overall recipient survival. The tests were performed on SQI's sqidlite™ automated instrument. Samples were taken from procedures being performed and were used for research purposes only.

"This is an exciting milestone in the partnership between UHN and SQI — and it's encouraging to see that both our teams were thrilled with the quality of results," said Andrew Morris, CEO of SQI Diagnostics. "We are honoured to play such an important role in helping to improve outcomes for more patients in more places — and we look forward to expanding the TORdx platform throughout the world."

About University Health Network
University Health Network consists of Toronto General and Toronto Western Hospitals, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and The Michener Institute of Education at UHN. The scope of research and complexity of cases at University Health Network has made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. It has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in cardiology, transplantation, neurosciences, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. University Health Network is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

Communications contact:
Gillian Howard
University Health Network
416-340-4838

About SQI Diagnostics
SQI Diagnostics (TSX-V: SQD; OTCQX: SQIDF) is a life sciences and diagnostics company that develops clinical grade multiplexed microarray and molecular assays run on its automated instrumentation for the pharmaceutical research, animal health, and clinical diagnostics markets. SQI develops custom research and diagnostic assays that are multiplexed; meaning the simplification, consolidation and automation of many individual tests into one. This increases sample throughput, reduces time, cost and chance for human error, and provides excellent data quality. For more information, please visit sqidiagnostics.com.

Investor Relations contact:
Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Morris
416.674.9500 ext. 229
[email protected]

Sales contact:
Vice President, Global Commercial Operations
Russ Peloquin
913.484.9022
[email protected]

Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements including, without limitation, the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "believe", "in the process", "benefits", "leading to", "position" "possible", "is subject to" and other similar expressions which may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect SQI Diagnostics Inc. ("SQI" or the "Company")'s current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: our ability to market and sell our products including our novel multiplexing technologies and detection platforms; our ability to maintain any technical or product advantages; the success of our Diagnostic Tools and Services business and our intent to build near-term revenue streams from this business; the successful regulatory filing and receipt of regulatory approvals for our later stage quantitative diagnostic consumable kits; adverse changes in general economic conditions; international risk and currency exchange fluctuations; competitor activity; technology changes; regulatory approvals and the impact of healthcare reform legislation; and, SQI's ability to raise additional funds in the future.

Such statements, risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company's ongoing filings with the securities regulatory authorities, and are available to the public at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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SOURCE SQI Diagnostics Inc.