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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.36

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

     This Security Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
the 7th day of February, 2001, by and between ACCUMED INTERNATIONAL, INC., a
Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 920 North Franklin
Street, Suite 402, Chicago, Illinois 60610 ("Debtor"), and AMPERSAND MEDICAL
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 414
N. Orleans, Suite 510, Chicago, Illinois 60610 ("Secured Party").

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Debtor and Secured Party have entered into an Agreement and Plan
of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") dated as of the date hereof; and

     WHEREAS, in connection with the Merger Agreement Debtor has executed a
certain Secured Promissory Note of even date herewith, made payable to Secured
Party (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, the "Note"), providing for the making of a term loan to
Debtor in the principal amount of Eight Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars
($800,000.00), and as a condition to the making of such loan Debtor is required
to grant the security interest contemplated by this Agreement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements
contained herein and in the Note, and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
hereby agree as follows:

     1. DEFINITIONS

     1.1 General Definitions. When used herein, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:

          (a) "Code" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the
     State of Illinois from time to time.

          (b) "Collateral" shall mean the Initial Collateral and the Additional
     Collateral, collectively, as specified in Section 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) hereof,
     respectively.

          (c) "Default" shall mean the occurrence or existence of any "Event of
     Default" under (and as defined in) the Note.

          (d) "Financing Agreements" shall mean the Note and all other
     agreements, instruments and documents executed by or on behalf of Debtor
     and delivered to Secured Party in connection therewith, including, without
     limitation, this Agreement.

          (e) "Liabilities" shall mean all liabilities, obligations and
     indebtedness of any and every kind and nature that arise under the Note,
     this Agreement or any other Financing Agreement, whether heretofore, now or
     hereafter owing, arising, due or payable from


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     Debtor to Secured Party.

          (f) "Lien" shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge,
     hypothecation, assignment, conditional sale agreement, deposit arrangement,
     security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), preference,
     priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any
     kind or nature whatsoever with respect to any property of a Person, whether
     granted voluntarily or imposed by law, and includes the interest of a
     lessor under a capitalized lease or under any financing lease having
     substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing and the
     filing of any financing statement or similar notice, under the Code or
     other comparable law of any jurisdiction.

          (g) "Person" shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship,
     partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization,
     association, limited liability company, corporation, institution, entity,
     party or government (whether national, federal, state, provincial, county,
     city, municipal or otherwise, including, without limitation, any
     instrumentality, division, agency, body or department thereof).

     1.2 Other Terms. All other terms contained in this Agreement, where the
context so indicates (unless otherwise specifically defined herein), shall have
the meanings provided by the Code to the extent the same are used or defined
therein.

     2. COLLATERAL

     2.1 Security Interest.

          (a) To secure payment and performance of Debtor's Liabilities, Debtor
     hereby grants to Secured Party a continuing security interest in and to all
     of Debtor's right, title and interest in and to all assets and property of
     Debtor listed on SCHEDULE A attached hereto, as such schedule may be
     amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time,
     whether such assets and property are owned on the date hereof or hereafter
     acquired, and all sale proceeds of such assets and property, and any and
     all insurance proceeds pertaining to such assets and property, together
     with all of Debtor's books and records pertaining to such assets and
     property (collectively, the "Initial Collateral").

          (b) To secure payment and performance of the Additional Loans provided
     for in Section 1.12(b) of the Merger Agreement, Debtor also hereby grants
     to Secured Party a continuing security interest in and to all of Debtor's
     right, title and interest in and to the assets and property listed on
     SCHEDULES B, C and D attached hereto (collectively, the "Additional
     Collateral"), as such schedules may be amended, restated, supplemented or
     otherwise modified from time to time, together with all of Debtor's books
     and records pertaining to such Additional Collateral, but such continuing
     security interest shall only become effective as to the Additional
     Collateral as and when the Additional Loans (as defined in the Merger
     Agreement) are actually made by Secured Party, in the following


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     manner:

          (i) to the Additional Collateral listed on SCHEDULE B when the first
     Additional Loan is made;

          (ii) to the Additional Collateral listed on SCHEDULE C when the second
     Additional Loan is made;

          (iii) to the Additional Collateral listed on SCHEDULE D when the third
     Additional Loan is made.

     2.2 Financing Statements. Debtor will execute and deliver to Secured Party
such financing statements or amendments thereof or supplements thereto, and such
other instruments as Secured Party may from time to time require in order to
preserve, protect and maintain the security interest granted hereby. Debtor
further agrees that a carbon, photographic, photostatic or other reproduction of
this Agreement or of a financing statement shall be sufficient as a financing
statement.

     2.3 Attachment. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1(b) hereof, Debtor
confirms that value has been given and that Debtor and Secured Party have not
agreed to postpone the time for attachment of the security interest created by
this Agreement to any of the Collateral.

     3. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

     3.1 Representations and Warranties. Debtor hereby represents and warrants
to Secured Party that:

          (a) Debtor (i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
     in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) is duly
     qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing
     under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the nature of Debtor's
     business or the ownership of its property requires such qualification, and
     (iii) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate and
     encumber its property and to conduct its business as presently conducted.

          (b) Debtor has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute,
     deliver and perform each of the Note, this Agreement and each document that
     is to be executed by it in connection with either of them. The execution,
     delivery, performance and filing, as the case may be, of each such document
     have been duly approved by the Board of Directors of Debtor and such
     approval has not been rescinded. No other corporate actions or proceedings
     on the part of Debtor are necessary to consummate such transactions. Each
     of the Note, this Agreement and each document that is to be executed by
     Debtor in connection with either of them has been duly executed and
     delivered by Debtor and constitutes its legal, valid and binding
     obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, and is in
     full force and effect.

          (c) The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Note, this


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     Agreement and each document that is to be executed by Debtor in
     connection with either of them do not and will not (i) conflict with
     Debtor's certificate of incorporation or by- laws, (ii) conflict with any
     law known to Debtor to be applicable to, or binding on, its business or the
     Collateral or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting the
     Debtor, or (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any
     Lien not contemplated by the Note or this Agreement.

          (d) Debtor is and will be the owner of, and has and will have good and
     marketable title to, the Collateral. Debtor is the legal and beneficial
     owner of the Collateral, free and clear of any and all Liens and other
     interests of third parties, except for the security interest created by
     this Agreement. No financing statement or other instrument similar in
     effect covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file in any
     recording office on the date hereof.

          (e) The respective locations where Debtor keeps the Collateral and
     Debtor's principal place of business and chief executive office are and
     will be located at the address first set forth hereinabove.

          (f) The correct corporate name of Debtor on the date hereof is AccuMed
     International, Inc., and Debtor will not use any other corporate or
     fictitious name without notifying Secured Party. Debtor will not change its
     name, identity or structure in any manner without the prior written consent
     of Secured Party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided that,
     as a condition to the effectiveness of any such consent, Debtor shall
     execute and deliver to the Secured Party, at Debtor's expense, any
     financing statements or other documents requested by Secured Party
     reasonably necessary or desirable to maintain the validity, perfection and
     priority of the Lien intended to be created hereby.

          (g) This Agreement, together with the filing of a financing statement
     with the Secretary of State of Illinois, upon the giving of value to Debtor
     by Secured Party, creates a valid and perfected security interest in the
     Collateral (other than Collateral in which a security interest may not be
     perfected by filing a financing statement under the Code) in accordance
     with the terms of this Agreement.

          (h) No consent of any other Person and no authorization, approval or
     other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental
     authority is required (i) for the grant by Debtor of the security interest
     granted hereby or for the execution, delivery or performance of this
     Agreement by Debtor, (ii) for the perfection or, except for the filing of
     the appropriate continuation statements with respect to the financing
     statements described in clause (g) above, maintenance of the security
     interest created hereby (including the maintenance of the relative priority
     of such security interest), or (iii) for the exercise by Secured Party of
     its rights and remedies hereunder.

          (i) There are no conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this
     Agreement that have not been satisfied or waived in writing.


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     3.2 Covenants. Until performance, payment and/or satisfaction, in full, of
the Liabilities, Debtor covenants and agrees as follows:

          (a) Debtor will furnish to Secured Party such information relevant to
     the Collateral as Secured Party may from time to time reasonably request,
     including, without limitation, documents pertaining to the original
     delivery of the Collateral to Debtor or other receipts for such Collateral.

          (b) Debtor will maintain adequate insurance against loss or damage to
     the Collateral and shall cause Secured Party to be named as an additional
     insured and loss payee with respect thereto during the term of this
     Agreement. Debtor shall promptly and from time to time, upon request,
     provide Secured Party with written certification of such insurance
     coverage.

     4. SALES, COLLECTIONS AND REPORTS

     4.1 Sales. Debtor may not sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral
(other than within the ordinary course of its business, consistent with past
practice) without the prior written consent of Secured Party. At such time, upon
or after the occurrence of a Default, if any, as Secured Party shall notify
Debtor of such Default, Debtor shall take such action with respect to the
disposition of the Collateral and of the proceeds thereof, as Secured Party may
request.

     4.2 Endorsement by Secured Party. Debtor hereby authorizes Secured Party to
endorse, in the name of Debtor, any item, howsoever received by Secured Party,
representing proceeds of any of the Collateral.

     4.3 Other Collateral Issues. Debtor will deliver to Secured Party, at such
times and in such form as shall reasonably be designated by Secured Party,
assignments, schedules and reports relating to the Collateral. Upon request by
Secured Party, Debtor will mark its books and records to reflect the security
interest of Secured Party in the Collateral.

     5. DEFAULT; REMEDIES

     5.1 Remedies. In the event a Default shall occur and while it is
continuing:

          (a) All Liabilities may (notwithstanding any provisions thereof), at
     the option of Secured Party, and without demand, notice or legal process of
     any kind, be declared, and immediately shall become, due and payable, and
     Secured Party may exercise from time to time any rights or remedies
     available to it under applicable laws or in equity, including, without
     limitation, the Code, in addition to, and not in lieu of, any rights and
     remedies expressly granted in this Agreement, in any of the other Financing
     Agreements, or otherwise, all of which remedies shall be cumulative.

          (b) At Secured Party's request, Debtor will promptly, at Debtor's
     expense,


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     assemble the Collateral at one or more places, reasonably convenient
     to both parties, where the Collateral may, at Secured Party's option,
     remain, at Debtor's expense, pending sale or other disposition thereof.

          (c) Debtor acknowledges that any breach by Debtor of any of the
     provisions of this Section 5.1 will cause irreparable injury to Secured
     Party, and that there is no adequate remedy at law for a breach of the
     provisions of such Section. Debtor agrees that Secured Party will have the
     immediate right, upon such breach, to seek to obtain injunctive and other
     equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction without any
     requirement of notice, and that the granting of any such relief shall not
     preclude Secured Party from pursuing any other available relief or remedies
     for such breach.

     5.2 Sale of Collateral. Any notification required by law of intended sale,
lease or other disposition by or on behalf of Secured Party of any of the
Collateral shall be deemed reasonably and properly given if mailed, postage
prepaid, to Debtor at Debtor's address set forth at the beginning of this
Agreement, at least twenty (20) business days before such sale, lease or other
disposition. Notice sent in such manner shall be deemed received on the fifth
business day following the day of deposit in the mails. Any proceeds of any
sale, lease or other disposition by Secured Party of any of the Collateral may
be applied by Secured Party to the payment of expenses in connection with the
Collateral, including, without limitation, reasonable "Attorneys' Fees" (as
defined in Section 5.3 hereof) and legal expenses. Any balance of such proceeds
may be applied by Secured Party toward the payment of the Liabilities in the
manner set forth in Section 7.5 hereof. Debtor shall remain liable for any
deficiency, and Secured Party shall account for any surplus.

     5.3 Attorneys' Fees; Costs and Expenses. "Attorneys' Fees" shall mean the
reasonable value of the services of the attorneys and legal agents employed by
Secured Party, from time to time, to commence, defend or intervene in any court
proceeding, or to file a petition, complaint, answer, motion or other pleadings,
or to take any other action in or with respect to any suit or proceeding
(bankruptcy or otherwise) relating to the Collateral, this Agreement, the Note,
or any of the other Financing Agreements, or to protect, collect, lease, sell,
take possession of, or liquidate any of the Collateral or to attempt to enforce
any security interest in any of the Collateral, or to enforce the rights of
Secured Party to collect any of the Liabilities. Such attorneys' fees, and any
expenses, costs and charges relating thereto, including, without limitation, all
fees of all paralegals and other staff employed by such attorneys, and all other
costs and expenses incurred by Secured Party with respect to the enforcement,
collection or protection of its interests in the Collateral shall be repayable
by Debtor to Secured Party on demand, shall be additional Liabilities and shall
be secured by the Collateral.

     5.4 Waiver of Bonds. IN THE EVENT THAT SECURED PARTY SEEKS TO TAKE
POSSESSION OF ANY OR ALL OF THE COLLATERAL BY COURT PROCESS, TO OBTAIN ANY
INJUNCTION OR OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF REQUIRING DEBTOR TO COMPLY WITH ANY OR ALL
OF THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION,
SECTION 5.1 HEREOF, OR OTHERWISE TO COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE LAW, DEBTOR HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY


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WAIVES ANY BONDS AND ANY SURETY THEREON OR SECURITY RELATING THERETO THAT IS
REQUIRED OR ALLOWED BY ANY STATUTE, COURT RULE OR OTHERWISE AS AN INCIDENT TO
SUCH POSSESSION OR INJUNCTION, AND WAIVES ANY DEMAND FOR POSSESSION PRIOR TO THE
COMMENCEMENT OF ANY SUIT OR ACTION TO RECOVER WITH RESPECT THERETO.

     5.5 Waiver of Demand. Except as otherwise provided in the Note, demand,
presentment, protest and notice of nonpayment is hereby waived by Debtor. Debtor
also waives the benefit of all valuation, appraisal and exemption laws.

     5.6 Waiver of Notice. IN THE EVENT OF A DEFAULT (PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY
GRANTED BY ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS), DEBTOR HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO NOTICE
AND HEARING OF ANY KIND PRIOR TO THE EXERCISE BY SECURED PARTY OF ITS RIGHTS TO
REPOSSESS THE COLLATERAL WITHOUT JUDICIAL PROCESS OR TO REPLEVY, ATTACH OR LEVY
UPON SUCH COLLATERAL WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR HEARING, AND DEBTOR ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IN EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT IT HAS BEEN ADVISED BY COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO
THIS TRANSACTION AND THIS AGREEMENT.

     5.7 Grant of License. Secured Party is hereby granted a license and right
to use, following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default,
without payment of royalty or other compensation, Debtor's labels, patents,
copyrights, trade names, trademarks, service marks, and advertising material, as
it pertains to the Collateral, in connection with, advertising for sale and
selling of any Collateral.

     6. TERM

     6.1 Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect so long as any Liabilities are owing by Debtor to Secured Party.

     6.2 Termination. No termination of this Agreement shall in any way affect
or impair the rights or liabilities of the parties hereto with respect to any
transactions or events that occurred prior to such termination date or to any
Collateral in which Secured Party has a security interest. All agreements,
warranties and representations of Debtor shall survive such termination.

7. MISCELLANEOUS

     7.1 Receipt of Payments. For purposes of determining the amount of the
Liabilities, including, without limitation, the computations of interest that
may from time to time be owing by Debtor to Secured Party, the receipt of any
check or any other item of payment by Secured Party shall not be treated as a
payment on account of the Liabilities until such check or other item of payment
is actually paid in collected funds. Any statement of account rendered by
Secured Party to Debtor relating to the Liabilities, including, without
limitation, all statements of balances owing, accrued interest, expenses and
costs, shall be presumed to be correct and accurate and constitute an account
stated unless, within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof by Debtor, Debtor
shall deliver to Secured Party written objection thereto specifying the error or
errors, if any,


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contained in any such statement.

     7.2 Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Agreement there is reference
made to any of the parties hereto, such reference shall be deemed to include,
wherever applicable, a reference to the successors and assigns of such party.
The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the successors and assigns of Debtor and Secured Party.

     7.3 Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of
Debtor, and all terms, provisions, conditions and agreements to be performed by
Debtor contained herein, or in any of the other Financing Agreements, shall be
true and satisfied at the time of the execution of this Agreement, and shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

     7.4 Governing Law; Severability. This Agreement shall be construed in all
respects in accordance with, and governed by, the laws and decisions of the
State of Illinois, without regard to conflicts of laws principles. Wherever
possible each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as
to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this
Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision
shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this
Agreement.

     7.5 Application of Payment. Debtor irrevocably waives the right to direct
the application of any and all payments at any time or times hereafter received
by Secured Party from Debtor, and Debtor does hereby irrevocably agree that
Secured Party shall have the continuing exclusive right to apply and reapply any
and all payments received at any time or times hereafter against the Liabilities
hereunder in such manner as Secured Party may deem advisable, notwithstanding
any entry by Secured Party upon any of its books and records.

     7.6 Invalidated Payment. Debtor agrees that to the extent that Debtor makes
a payment or payments to Secured Party, which payment or payments, or any part
thereof, are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or
preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to Debtor, its estate,
trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal
law, common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of such payment or
repayment, the Liability or part thereof which has been paid, reduced or
satisfied by the amount so repaid shall be reinstated and included within the
Liabilities as of the date of such initial payment, reduction or satisfaction
occurred.

     7.7 Submission to Jurisdiction. DEBTOR CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY
STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, AND DEBTOR HEREBY
WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON DEBTOR AND CONSENTS THAT ALL
SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS BE MADE BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL DIRECTED TO
DEBTOR AT ITS ADDRESS STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS AGREEMENT.

     7.8 Notice. Except as otherwise provided for herein, any statement, notice
or other


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communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and may be
personally served, sent by facsimile transmission, air courier guaranteeing next
business day delivery or certified or registered United States mail, postage
prepaid, and shall be deemed delivered upon receipt if personally served, upon
confirmation of receipt if sent by facsimile transmission, the next business
day, if sent by air courier guaranteeing next business day delivery, and, if
sent by mail, three (3) business days after deposit in the United States mail
with postage prepaid and properly addressed. For purposes of this Section 7.8,
the addresses of the parties hereto shall be as follows:

<TABLE>

<S>                                    <C>
         If to Debtor, at:             AccuMed International, Inc.
                                       920 N. Franklin St., Suite 402
                                       Chicago, IL  60610
                                       Attention: Paul F. Lavallee, Chairman of the
                                                  Board and Chief Executive Officer
                                       Telecopier: (312) 642-8684; Confirmation:(312) 642-9200

         With a copy to:               Joyce L. Wallach, Esq.
                                       1500 7th Avenue
                                       Sacramento, CA  95818
                                       Telecopier: (916) 341-0256; Confirmation: (916) 341-0255

         If to Secured Party, at:      Ampersand Medical Corporation
                                       414 N. Orleans, Suite 510
                                       Chicago, IL  60610
                                       Attention: Peter P. Gombrich, Chairman of the
                                                  Board and Chief Executive Officer
                                       Telecopier: (312) 222-9580; Confirmation: (312) 222-9550

         With a copy to:               Schwartz, Cooper, Greenberger & Krauss, Chartered
                                       180 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2700
                                       Chicago, IL 60601
                                       Attention: Richard J. Firfer, Esq. or
                                                  Robert A. Smoller, Esq.
                                       Telecopier:  (312) 728-8416; Confirmation: (312) 346-1300
</TABLE>

or, as to each party, at such other address as may be designated by such party
in a written notice to the other party to this Agreement in accordance with this
Section 7.8.

     7.9 Conflict With Note. In the event of any conflict between the terms and
provisions of the Note, on the one hand, and the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, or the terms and provisions of any other Financing Agreement, on the
other hand, the terms and provisions of the Note shall prevail.



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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the date
first hereinabove written.


                                      ACCUMED INTERNATIONAL, INC.




                                      By:/s/ PAUL F. LAVALLEE
                                         ---------------------------------
                                           Paul F. Lavallee,
                                           Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                           Executive Officer


                                      AMPERSAND MEDICAL CORPORATION


                                      By:/s/ PETER P. GOMBRICH
                                         ---------------------------------
                                           Peter P. Gombrich,
                                           Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                           Executive Officer