SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

NOTE 3: SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation:

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Atossa Genetics Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary NRLBH. All significant intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:

The Company has adopted all recently issued accounting pronouncements that management believes to be applicable to the Company. The adoption of these accounting pronouncements, including those not yet effective, is not anticipated to have a material effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

Revenue Recognition:

Overview

The Company recognizes product and service revenue in accordance with GAAP when the following overall fundamental criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or the service has been performed, (iii) the Company’s price to the customer is fixed or determinable and (iv) collection of the resulting accounts receivable is reasonably assured.

Product Revenue

The Company recognizes revenue for sales of the MASCT kits and devices on an accrual basis for sales to distributors when the above four criteria are met. For sales of MASCT kits and devices sold directly to physicians, the revenue is typically recognized upon receipt of cash as the Company has an insufficient history which to determine collectability. Shipping documents and the completion of any customer acceptance requirements, when applicable, will be used to verify product delivery. The Company will assess whether a price is fixed or determinable based upon the payment terms associated with the transaction and whether the sales price is subject to refund or adjustment. For sales directly to physicians, once a history of sales and collectability has been established, the Company will recognize revenue on an accrual basis with an offsetting reserve for doubtful accounts based on the history during the initial sales period.

Service Revenue

The Company records revenue for diagnostic testing on an accrual basis at the Medicare allowed and invoiced amount. Amounts invoiced above the Medicare amount, namely non-Medicare, are not recognized on an accrual basis and instead are recognized on a cash basis as received. Diagnostic testing revenue at the Medicare rate is recognized upon completion of the test, communication of results to the patient’s physician, and when collectability is reasonably assured. Customer purchase orders and/or contracts are generally used to determine the existence of an arrangement. Once the Company has historical sales and can determine the proper amount to recognize as uncollectible, it will then begin to recognize the entire amount, both Medicare and non-Medicare billing on an accrual basis, with an offsetting allowance for doubtful accounts recorded based on history. 

Cost of Revenue:

Cost of revenue consists of cost of diagnostic testing services and cost of product sales. Cost of diagnostic testing services primarily includes direct cost of material, direct labor, equipment, and shipping to process the patient samples (including pathology, quality control analysis, and shipping charges to transport tissue sample) in our laboratory. Costs associated with performing the Company's tests are recorded as tests are processed. Costs recorded for tissue sample processing and shipping charges represent the cost of all the tests processed during the period regardless of whether revenue was recognized with respect to that test. Cost of product sales primarily includes manufacturing cost of our MASCT System for sales to distributors, which is recorded upon transfer of ownership of the goods.

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and all highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less.

Use of Estimates:

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounts Receivable:

Accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value consisting of the carrying amount less allowance for doubtful accounts, as needed. The Company assesses the collectability of accounts receivable based primarily upon the creditworthiness of the customer as determined by credit checks and analysis, as well as the customer’s payment history. Management reviews the composition of accounts receivable and analyzes historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit worthiness, current economic trends, and changes in customer payment patterns to evaluate the adequacy of these reserves. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, $354,860 and $0 in allowance for doubtful accounts and bad debt expense were assessed or recorded, respectively.

Inventories:

The Company’s inventories are stated at lower of cost or market. Cost is determined on a moving-average basis. Costs of inventories include purchase and related costs incurred in delivering the products to their present location and condition. Market value is determined by reference to selling prices after the balance sheet date or to management’s estimates based on prevailing market conditions. Inherent in the lower of cost or market calculation are several significant judgments based on a review of the aging of the inventory, inventory movement of products, economic conditions, and replacement costs. Management periodically evaluates the composition of its inventories at least quarterly to identify slow-moving and obsolete inventories to determine if any valuation allowance is required. During the course of our recall commenced in October 2013, we have recalled a substantial number of MASCT Systems. Based on management’s assessment of those devices and the pending FDA clearance, management decided to establish 100% allowance for valuation reserve on all MASCT Systems, and recorded $149,946 of losses on obsolete inventory as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013. During 2012 and prior, because the sales price of the MASCT System was substantially lower than its cost, resulting in the net realizable value of the MASCT System being determined at zero as of the balance sheet dates through taking the average sales price subtracted by selling expenses per unit, $29,884 of loss on reduction of inventory to the lower of cost or market was assessed and recorded for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Company outsources product manufacturing to outside manufacturer contactors. The ownership of the goods transfers from the manufacturer to the Company’s customer at the time the products are shipped to the customers. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, inventories amounted to $0 after netting of the above valuation allowances.

The Company provides, either directly or through distributors, the NAF specimen collection kits to doctors with our MASCT System for doctors to collect specimens that are returned to the CNRLBH or other laboratories for diagnostic analysis. These collection kits are considered part of the MASCT System. During the initial marketing phase, the Company distributed the kits to customers free of charge and bundle them with the MASCT System, and has not intended to deem the kits as a primary product line due to their nominal cost and value per unit. As a result, the kits are immediately expensed and recorded as selling expense upon purchasing of the kits. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, selling expense of $126,507 and $55,282 was recorded related to the ForeCYTE kits, respectively.

Property, plant, and equipment:

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to earnings as incurred; additions, renewals and betterments are capitalized.  When property, plant and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is included in operations

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

	Useful Life (in years)
Machinery and equipment	5
Leasehold improvements	2.083

The Company applies the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 360 (ASC 360), “Property, Plant, and Equipment” which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used in accordance with ASC 360, at least on an annual basis. ASC 360 requires the impairment losses to be recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amounts. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived assets. Loss on long-lived assets to be disposed of is determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced for the cost of disposal. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, $158,292 and $0 was assessed and recorded as impairment on long-life assets.

Intangible assets:

Intangible assets consist of intellectual property and software acquired. At least annually, we evaluate purchased intangibles for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are less than its carrying amount. Estimating future cash flows related to an intangible asset involves significant estimates and assumptions. If our assumptions are not correct, there could be an impairment loss or, in the case of a change in the estimated useful life of the asset, a change in amortization expense. There was no impairment of intangible assets as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

	Useful Life (in years)
Patents	9-14
Software	3

Research and Development Expenses:

Research and development costs are generally expensed as incurred. The Company’s research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for internal and external research and development.

Share Based Payments:

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, issued the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”, which replaces SFAS No. 123 and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25. SFAS No. 123(R) is now included in the FASB’s ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” Under SFAS No. 123(R), companies are required to measure the compensation costs of share-based compensation arrangements based on the grant-date fair value and recognize the costs in the financial statements over the period during which employees or independent contractors are required to provide services. Share-based compensation arrangements include stock options and warrants, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights and employee share purchase plans. In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, or SAB 107, which expresses views of the staff regarding the interaction between SFAS No. 123(R) and certain SEC rules and regulations and provides the staff’s views regarding the valuation of share-based payment arrangements for public companies. SFAS No. 123(R) permits public companies to adopt its requirements using one of two methods. On April 14, 2005, the SEC adopted a new rule amending the compliance dates for SFAS No. 123(R). Companies may elect to apply this statement either prospectively, or on a modified version of retrospective application under which financial statements for prior periods are adjusted on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required for those periods under SFAS No. 123.

The Company has fully adopted the provisions of FASB ASC 718 and related interpretations as provided by SAB 107. As such, compensation cost is measured on the date of grant as the fair value of the share-based payments. Such compensation amounts, if any, are amortized over the respective vesting periods of the option grant.