SugenTech exports COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kits to Italy and 5 other countries

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] SuzenTech's newly developed rapid antibody diagnostic kit for COVID-19, ‘SGTi-flex COVID-19 IgG/IgM,’ will be exported to a total of six countries in Europe and Asia, including Italy, Germany, Austria, the Philippines, and Daeguk.

SuzenTech announced on the 20th that it will export 50,000 kits from the first production batch of its COVID-19 antibody rapid diagnostic kits to Germany, Italy, Austria, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Since obtaining the European CE certification, there has been a flood of supply requests from overseas countries lacking molecular diagnostic (PCR) testing facilities, equipment, reagents, and professional clinical pathologists.

SuzenTech’s ‘SGTi-flex COVID-19 IgG/IgM’ is a kit that simultaneously diagnoses IgG and IgM antibodies. By dropping just one drop of fingertip blood or whole blood onto the kit without a ‘plasma separation’ process, it can rapidly determine COVID-19 infection status within 10 minutes.

SuzenTech completed European CE registration last week, enabling exports not only to Europe but also to most overseas countries recognizing the European CE certification. Supply requests for rapid diagnostic kits have sharply increased, especially in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, to the extent that the first batch of production cannot meet the demand.

A SuzenTech official stated, “Supply requests for rapid diagnostic kits have surged significantly in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and even the United States, and the demand has exploded to the point that the first production batch cannot meet the required volume. Generally, multi-year contracts are signed with one company per country for supply, but due to the flood of purchase requests for COVID-19 diagnostic kits, we decided to prioritize supply to companies with proven diagnostic kit marketing capabilities that have placed purchase orders (PO) and made advance payments.”

He added, “As mass production progresses, shipment volumes are expected to increase significantly. The first export of mass-produced products will proceed at the end of March, and the second batch of mass production, with additional raw materials secured, is expected to produce 100,000 kits per week. From May, production is expected to reach 200,000 to 300,000 tests per week.”

The United States, China, and the WHO recommend using antibody testing with blood alongside molecular diagnostic (PCR) testing. In particular, China recommends antibody testing not only for confirming COVID-19 patients but also when lifting quarantine.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.