Empower Clinics KAI Medical Lab to launch FDA-approved saliva-based COVID-19 test on December 15

Empower Clinics Inc (CSE:CBDT) (OTCQB:EPWCF) (FRA:8EC), an integrated healthcare company, said on Wednesday that KAI Medical Laboratory will be launching a US Food and Drug Administration-approved, at home and work saliva-based COVID-19 reverse transcription PCR, or RT-PCR test on December 15.  In addition, KAI’s ABC-PCR test protocol will simultaneously differentiate between Influenza A/B and COVID-19. In fact, the group’s previously announced major contract for testing in the film and TV industry will switch to Kai-handled ABC-PCR tests and launch on December 7. Empower said the deal represents a significantly higher purchase order of 10,000 tests.  According to the company, the FDA-approved “spit and shake” at home, or work saliva test is a game-changer. The KAI Saliva Test is the direct result of “investing in scientific R&D through Kai,” and empowering them to deliver “clinical trial data and validation,” said the company. Empower believes this gives it “a strong upper hand” on the national and potentially international stage. READ: Empower Clinics signs North American distribution agreement with API Pharma for its COVID rapid antigen and antibody tests The power of the saliva test is in its simplicity. According to the company, users merely spit into a funnel, then close the funnel with a lid containing a liquid to be mixed with the saliva by simply shaking it for five seconds. The test does not require a medical technician for specimen collection. The specimen is then returned to KAI Medical Labs from anywhere in the country for processing. KAI will analyze and provide a response within 24 hours through its HIPAA-compliant IT system, said the company. “The new KAI Saliva Test is an anywhere-based PCR test that is non-invasive and can even be used to test children. It’s simple, effective and can be distributed nationwide with FDA approval using the KAI assay and processing procedures,” said Empower Clinics CEO, Steven McAuley. “It is a game-changer in its simplicity and we are optimistic about its success,” he added. The KAI Saliva Test will be available for sale on December 15, with distribution to include online access and wholesale programs. It will also be available through the group’s labyrinth of Sun Valley Health clinics. On November 19, Empower first revealed that KAI would introduce a new Influenza A/B COVID RT-PCR test. The company then confirmed that the record order received from a film and TV production house for 9,000 tests was valued in excess of $1 million and that they would now be switching over to the higher-priced ABC RT-PCR Test. Empower said it has filed a trademark for KAI ABC PCR. As testing now primarily focuses on COVID-19, diagnosing the difference between the two will be crucial to treatment and health outcomes, said the company. “Specifically, differentiating the pathogens will help medical professionals quickly diagnose and treat more efficiently,” noted Empower. Although the cost of an ABC RT-PCR test is 15% to 25% more expensive than an RT-PCR test, providing analysis on all three viruses is significantly cheaper than testing for them separately. The Vancouver-based company’s Sun Valley Health subsidiary owns a network of physician-staffed health clinics in Oregon and Arizona that serve more than 165,000 patients and provides tele-medicine options in Arizona, Oregon, Washington State, Nevada and California. Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive