The announcement follows a World Health Organization emergency declaration and updated traveler screening measures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Co-Diagnostics Inc announced it has completed the assay development strategy for the Bundibugyo virus, which is currently causing an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Bundibugyo virus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. According to WHO, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths. Uganda has reported two laboratory-confirmed cases and one death.
The announcement follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding enhanced screening and monitoring for travelers arriving from regions with Ebola outbreaks. These CDC measures include increased monitoring, contact tracing coordination, and hospital preparedness efforts, which the company says underscores the need for rapid testing.
“We are pleased to report that we have completed the assay development strategy for Bundibugyo virus, and should a situation arise requiring the assay, we expect we would be well positioned to execute the strategy and rapidly make the test available,” says Dwight Egan, CEO, in a release.
The company says its PCR platform is designed for decentralized diagnostics and real-time situational awareness. The system features a cloud-connected architecture intended to help public health authorities identify, monitor, and respond to infectious disease threats.
“The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the importance of preparedness and rapid response capabilities for emerging infectious disease threats, and we believe it is important to be positioned to respond quickly as we have in the past when situations like these have emerged,” says Egan in a release.
The Co-Dx PCR platform and its associated tests are currently subject to review by the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory bodies. The system is not yet available for sale.
