An announcement today regarding the exclusive license granted to controversial chip-implant maker VeriChip (CHIP) for H1N1 detection sent CHIP shares hurtling nearly out of orbit — up 178%, or over $2 per share — to around $3.20 by Monday afternoon. Other news reports have cited that this is the biggest intra-day gain since the company went public in February 2007.

VeriChip’s development partner, RECEPTORS LLC, has granted exclusive rights to VeriChip to develop one of its patents based on the "virus triage detection system" used to treat H1N1 virus, commonly known as "swine flu."

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VeriChip is best known for its human-implantible RFID (radio frequency identification) chip, which has sparked controversy from civil rights groups and religious organizations alike. Some opponents of the technology have derided VeriChip products as "spy chips."

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