- According to a ResearchAndMarkets.com report, the global COVID-19 rapid test kits market is expected to reach $0.27 billion in 2025
- Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BDX) has provided more than 12 million of its BD Veritor SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests to Health Canada
- Roche Diagnostics (RHHBY) has distributed more than 36 million Roche SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen tests in Canada.
- The fastest combination antigen test available to detect SARS-CoV-2, Flu A and Flu B is developed by Halifax-based MedMira Inc. (MIR)
- The company received the CE mark in January 2023, and its VYRA CoV2Flu is now available in Europe and any countries accepting the CE mark
The COVID situation may not dominate headlines as it used to, but it has still made cold and flu season all the more troublesome.
As of February 10, 2023, a total of 93,390,727 vaccine doses have been administered to Canadians, according to the World Health Organization.
Testing has proven that the best defense is knowledge. An antigen test detects proteins which are structural or functional components of a pathogen and are thus very specific to that pathogen.
According to a ResearchAndMarkets.com report, the global COVID-19 rapid test kits market is expected to reach $0.27 billion in 2025.
What companies are working out there to answer the market’s need to have more answers in a shorter time frame? Let’s dive into a few ….
Becton, Dickinson and Co. (NYSE:BDX) has provided more than 12 million of its BD Veritor SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests to Health Canada.
The world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of medical surgical products, such as needles, syringes, and sharps-disposal units, BD also manufactures diagnostic instruments and reagents, as well as flow cytometry and cell-imaging systems.
Roche Diagnostics, a division of Hoffman La Roche Ltd. (OTCQX:RHHBY), the world’s largest biotechnology company, received Health Canada approval for its SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test.
François Drolet, Roche Diagnostics’s Public Affairs Director, said in a media release that this allows taking the test to the patient while enabling fast decision-making and rapid isolation, thus reducing the risk of further spreading the virus.
“Our SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test is an additional tool in the toolbox which offers opportunities to refine the COVID-19 testing strategies while the country looks at safely reopening the economy and keeping Canadians safe.”
The company has distributed more than 36 million Roche SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen tests in Canada.
The fastest combination antigen test available to detect SARS-CoV-2, Flu A and Flu B is developed by Halifax-based MedMira Inc. (TSXV:MIR).
With only one nasal swap sample, the distinctive features of MedMira’s unique Rapid Vertical Flow (RVF) technology allow VYRA CoV2Flu to be different from other rapid tests or conventional testing methods. VYRA CoV2Flu can detect simultaneously all three markers in one application and provides an immediate result.
The company received the CE mark in January 2023, and its VYRA CoV2Flu is now available in Europe and any countries accepting the CE mark.
MedMira’s CEO, Hermes Chan, said that while there are several SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests available and his company’s VYRA Covid-19 Antigen Test offers the fastest, high-quality alternative on the market, the team believes that VYRA CoV2Flu is the answer to meet the current demand.
“The increasing infection rates for COVID-19 and Flu A/B and the serious harm these viruses are causing is a major concern for the health care system and any individual. Our aim is simply to offer anyone something that can help people know in the shortest possible time with the assurance that the results are what they truly are. We believe and know that our VYRA CoV2Flu provides our partners and customers with the answer they need without compromising quality.”
He added that the team has conducted extensive internal and external validations to guarantee fast results.
COVID-19 testing solutions provide healthcare professionals and patients with a quick answer on their infection status and are critical to contain the community spread of the virus.
