Salt Lake firm begins shipping coronavirus test

Salt Lake City-based Co-Diagnostics has launched a research-use-only (RUO) test for the new coronavirus (renamed COVID-19 last week by the World Health Organization) under its CoPrimer brand. Responding to a worldwide demand, the company said the test, named Logix Smart 2019-nCoV, is now available for sale  and is being shipped to laboratories, hospitals and other institutions around the globe.{mprestriction ids="1,3"}

Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta reported that the deadly virus had been diagnosed in over 60,000 people worldwide, includingat least 15 in the United States. Dozens of other suspected cases in the U.S. are waiting test results. More than 1,350 people have died of the virus in China, where the disease originated.

Co-Diagnostics’ launch announcement came just two weeks after the firm said it had developed the test and was in the process of assuring its effective performance for detecting the disease and that it meets the requirements of a large and growing market for coronavirus detection. 

The test was designed using the company’s proprietary processes, including the CoDx Design software system, to rapidly identify and verify the most optimal target on the COVID-19 genome, the company said. Co-Diagnostics believes that the test’s unique design will provide enhanced accuracy when detecting the presence of the coronavirus, including improved specificity over tests designed on a different platform.

“Increased specificity is one of the hallmarks of tests built using our patented CoPrimer platform,” said Dwight Egan, CEO of Co-Diagnostics. “Leveraging our proprietary design process and software has allowed us to quickly move this product from design into commercialization, and to do so with the confidence that our high-quality product meets our goal of providing an effective, much-needed global diagnostic solution in an emergency situation. As a result of our rapid development, we have already received requests from customers in countries across the world to purchase tests.

“Sales and shipments of products will be fulfilled from our Utah headquarters to customers who have the capacity to utilize RUO products to slow the spread of this epidemic,” Egan said. 

Co-Diagnostics stock prices jumped over 35 percent early last week in response to the announcement that the test was being shipped. Stock volume surged seven-fold mid-week.{/mprestriction}