Roche to Launch COVID-19 Diagnostic Equipment Delivering Results in 15 Minutes in Europe Starting Late This Month

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche announced that it will launch a diagnostic testing device capable of determining COVID-19 infection status within 15 minutes in Europe starting at the end of this month.

According to CNBC on the 1st (local time), Roche plans to release a new diagnostic testing device that detects COVID-19 antigens and confirms infection status within 15 minutes to European Union (EU) countries. It stated that approval and supply could be possible as early as the end of this month. According to Roche, based on tests of 426 samples, the device showed an infection detection accuracy of 96% and a non-infection detection accuracy of 99%.

Roche said, "Once sales begin, we plan to produce more than 40 million units per month and expect to double production by the end of the year." It also stated, "We plan to request emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)." Previously, the COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test kit developed by U.S. medical device company Abbott Labs received emergency use authorization from the FDA last week.

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