Co-Diagnostics is designing at-home coronavirus PCR saliva test delivering results by smartphone app

Co-Diagnostics Inc (NASDAQ:CODX) has announced the development of a new at-home PCR-based coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, screening and surveillance platform that delivers rapid results via smartphone. The small cube-shaped device is designed to perform COVID-19 testing at businesses, schools, homes, hotels, cruise ships, airports, airplanes and other locations. It relies on the company's Direct Saliva extraction-free process and Logix Smart test reagents that are pre-packaged in saliva receptacle tubes.  A person simply adds a swab or saliva sample to the receptacle tube and places the tube inside the device, which is then activated using a smartphone app and delivers rapid PCR COVID-19 results directly to the smartphone.  READ: Co-Diagnostics notes its CoPrimer technology powers coronavirus saliva test now available through Walgreens digital health platform Co-Diagnostics says that the convenience of displaying testing results on the smartphone empowers individuals to quickly know their COVID-19 status and may provide a simple way to satisfy entry requirements for entertainment venues, airplane travel, hotel accommodations and more. With this platform, Co-Diagnostics plans to revolutionize the availability of accurate, fast and economical PCR tests as regular COVID-19 testing becomes part of the long-term protocol for many organizations "The company has always envisioned ultimately developing a point-of-care/at-home diagnostic device making PCR accessible at affordable prices worldwide, and we are pleased that the culmination of years of development has resulted in a realization of this vision,” Co-Diagnostics CEO Dwight Egan said in a statement. “Along with vaccines, social distancing with masks and high-throughput laboratory testing, we believe that the wide-spread availability of this testing platform will truly give individuals the power to know their COVID-19 status so the world can get back to work, school, travel and vacations in a COVID-safe environment," he added. The platform chemistry was created by Co-Diagnostics utilizing the company’s proprietary CoPrimer technology, its Direct Saliva protocols and freeze-dried reagents. The device is being developed and engineered for by internationally renowned experts in rapid PCR applications and whose previous medical device inventions are in widespread use around the world, the company said. The rapid gold-standard PCR results from this platform would be differentiated from less accurate antigen tests, the company said. Additionally, PCR may even detect the presence of genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus being carried by vaccinated patients.  In the long term, Co-Diagnostics noted that epidemiologists have argued that the rapid spread of the coronavirus and the appearance of mutant strains mean that COVID-19 could remain in varying forms for years, or potentially decades, similar to other endemic diseases like flu, the common cold and HIV. Relatedly, the company expects that other tests will also become available on the device, such as strep A, RSV, influenza A, influenza B and potentially any pathogen that can be sampled from a patient using saliva or a swab. It is expected that the new platform will be available for submission for regulatory approval later this year, the company said. Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel