Biolidics’ Rapid Test Kit For Covid-19 Approved For Use By The Food And Drug Administration Of The Philippines
- The Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases has recommended the use of COVID-19 IgG and IgM Rapid Diagnostic Test kits as one of the two testing methods for COVID-19(1)
- According to the Philippines’ Department of Health, there are more than 2,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as at 1 April 2020 (2)
- Biolidics’ rapid test kit is one of the few that combines both IgG/IgM antibody test for COVID-19 and using serum, plasma or whole blood samples, the rapid test kit can detect COVID-19 with an accuracy of more than 95% in 10 minutes.
Singapore, 1 April 2020 – Biolidics Limited (“Biolidics” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), is pleased to announce that its rapid test kit for the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (“COVID-19”) has, on 31 March 2020, obtained the relevant authorisation from the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines for its rapid test kit to be used in the country.
On 31 March 2020, the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases issued interim guidelines on the clinical management of adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection.
As part of the guidelines, all suspected cases of COVID-19 should undergo testing for COVID19 and one of the two tests is COVID-19 IgG and IgM Rapid Diagnostic Test kits. The guidelines also include guidance on the use and interpretation of rapid antibody-based testing kits for COVID-19.
Biolidics’ rapid test kit is one of the few that combines both IgG/IgM antibody test for COVID19. Using serum, plasma or whole blood samples, Biolidics’ rapid test kit can detect COVID19 with an accuracy of more than 95% in 10 minutes.
Biolidics’ rapid test kit is generally used for the purpose of point-of-care testing (“POCT”), which allows the diagnostic testing of COVID-19 to be performed in wide range of healthcare settings by clinical personnel who are not trained in clinical laboratory procedures. Notably, Biolidics’ rapid test kit is simple-to-use and portable, hence it can be deployed where testing is needed most. The results from the test is not to be used for confirmatory testing or as sole basis for diagnosis. The results will have to be interpreted together with clinical presentation and are to be confirmed with supplementary testing.
For more Info:
(1) https://www.psmid.org/cpg-for-covid-19-ver-2-1-as-of-march-31-
2020/?fbclid=IwAR0z4hNbVfzL5zKQZurofG_7ee6NllQCJhZpgjEK–geezFHtL-P_io5FY8(2) https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV
Recently, Biolidics has obtained provisional authorisation from Singapore’s Health Science Authority for its rapid test kit to be used in Singapore on 27 March 2020. On 16 March 2020, WHO has called on all countries to ramp up their testing programmes as it is the best way to slow the advance of the coronavirus pandemic(3).
Given the increasing concerns over the spread of COVID-19, there is a growing demand for a simple, fast and accurate solution to control and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
About Biolidics Limited
(Bloomberg Code: BLD:Singapore / Reuters Code: BIOL.SI / SGX Code: 8YY) Incorporated in 2009, Biolidics is a Singapore-based medical technology company focusing on the development of cell enrichment systems which, when combined with other analytical tests, have a wide range of applications for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, treatment selection and treatment monitoring.
Biolidics has developed and commercialised the ClearCell® FX1 System, a fully automated CEIVD medical device which relies on a novel patented technology to separate and enrich cancer cells from blood.
The ClearCell® FX1 System, installed across Asia, Europe and North America, allows users of the system to perform liquid biopsies to test for the presence of cancer cells (specifically circulating tumour cells, or CTCs) in blood samples or perform further analysis on cancer cells.
Liquid biopsies (i.e. analysis of the circulating tumour cells in blood samples) have many applications throughout the various stages of a patient’s cancer journey, from cancer screening and staging to personalised treatment, and post- cancer monitoring.
Biolidics’ quality assurance capabilities have been recognised through its ISO 13485 certification, CE-IVD, US FDA Class I registration and NMPA Class I registration.
For additional information, please visit www.biolidics.com.
Issued on behalf of Biolidics Limited by 8PR Asia Pte Ltd.
Media & Investor Contacts:
This press release has been prepared by Biolidics Limited (the “Company”) and has been reviewed by the Company’s sponsor, United Overseas Bank Limited (the “Sponsor”), for compliance with Rules 226(2)(b) and 753(2) of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the “SGX-ST”) Listing Manual Section B: Rules of Catalist. This press release has not been examined or approved by the SGXST. The SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the contents of this press release, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this press release.
The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr Chia Beng Kwan, Senior Director, Equity Capital Markets, who can be contacted at 80 Raffles Place, #03-03 UOB Plaza 1, Singapore 048624, telephone: +65 65339898.
