Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche to launch rapid coronavirus test in September

Basel · The Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche is planning to introduce a rapid coronavirus test in September. With this new test, results are expected to be available in 15 minutes.

 A researcher shows a rapid coronavirus test at the Leibnitz Institute for Photonic Technologies.

A researcher shows a rapid coronavirus test at the Leibnitz Institute for Photonic Technologies.

Foto: dpa/Bodo Schackow

The Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche will launch a rapid coronavirus antigen test this month. Test results are usually available within 15 minutes, the company announced on Tuesday evening.

According to the information provided, the test is to be launched initially in Europe at the end of September. It will be available in CE designated countries which means the product can be sold in the European Economic Area. But the group also plans to apply for a fast approval (Emergency Use Authorization) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the regulatory authority in the U.S.

According to the announcement, the test can be performed without needing a laboratory. It uses a nasopharyngeal swab and is highly reliable. According to Roche, 40 million rapid tests will be available each month upon market launch. This capacity will more than double by the end of this year.

Particularly in the forthcoming flu season it is important to know whether a person is ill with the coronavirus or the flu, says Thomas Schinecker, head of the Roche diagnostics division. In order to stem the spread of the coronavirus, tests that give doctors and patients a quick answer to the infection status are of crucial importance, he said.

The launch is being carried out in partnership with SD Biosensor, with whom Roche has a worldwide distribution agreement.

Orig. text: dpa

Translation: ck

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