Winston-Salem, N.C., Biotech Firm Raising Funds for Cancer Blood-Test.

Byline: Kristi E. Swartz

Oct. 7--Amplistar Inc., a biotechnology company, has linked up with First Union Securities for help in raising $15 million in its second round of financing.

Amplistar, which is developing a blood test to detect and treat cancers in their earliest stages, will use the money to further develop its technology platform. The company started by developing a blood test to screen for ovarian cancer but has been expanding that test to detect other types of cancer, including colon, lung and prostate.

The money raised will go toward further developing those tests as well as toward more research, said Eric Larson, the company's business-development …