Fulgent Genetics to Partner with Houston Health Department and Houston-Area Public Schools on Back-to-School COVID-19 Testing Program

Rhea-AI Summary

Fulgent Genetics (NASDAQ: FLGT) announced a partnership with the Houston Health Department and local public schools to conduct COVID-19 testing for students this school year. Aiming to combat rising COVID-19 cases among school-age children, the initiative will utilize RT-PCR testing with parental consent. Participating districts include Houston ISD and Aldine ISD, with daily sample deliveries to Fulgent's Houston lab, ensuring results are available the next school day. The company's certified lab capabilities position it as a trusted provider for COVID-19 testing services.

Positive

• Partnership with Houston Health Department to provide COVID-19 testing.
• RT-PCR testing will allow quick turnaround of results for students.
• Presence of CAP/CLIA certified laboratory in Houston enhances service credibility.

Negative

• None.

TEMPLE CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLGT) (“Fulgent” or the “Company”), a technology-based genetic testing company focused on transforming patient care in oncology, infectious and rare diseases, and reproductive health, today announced that it will be partnering with the Houston Health Department and Houston-area public schools to provide COVID-19 testing to students during the current school year.

Fulgent will be providing RT-PCR testing to students whose parents consent for testing. Students are being statistically selected weekly across school districts in the Houston-area public school system, a process that will continue for the duration of the school year. Participating school districts include Houston ISD and Aldine ISD, the seventh largest and 54^th largest school districts in the United States, respectfully. Fulgent is uniquely positioned to serve these districts with our CAP/CLIA certified laboratory located in Houston, Texas. Student samples will be delivered to the laboratory daily, and results will be available before the next school day.

“We are pleased to be partnering with the Houston Health Department and Houston-area public schools on their COVID-19 testing program for the school year,” said Brandon Perthuis, Chief Commercial Officer of Fulgent Genetics. “With COVID-19 cases on the rise across the country, we hope to help protect students and faculty from the spread of the virus, particularly as vaccination rates remain low with school-age children. Our ability to deliver high quality RT-PCR testing with differentiated service and rapid turnaround time remains a key reason why schools, hospitals and municipalities choose Fulgent as a trusted partner for COVID-19 testing.”

About Fulgent Genetics

Fulgent Genetics is a technology-based genetic testing company focused on transforming patient care in oncology, infectious and rare diseases, and reproductive health. Fulgent’s proprietary technology platform has created a broad, flexible test menu and the ability to continually expand and improve its proprietary genetic reference library while maintaining accessible pricing, high accuracy, and competitive turnaround times. Combining next generation sequencing (“NGS”) with its technology platform, the Company performs full-gene sequencing with deletion/duplication analysis in an array of panels that can be tailored to meet specific customer needs. A cornerstone of the Company’s business is its ability to provide expansive options and flexibility for all clients’ unique testing needs through a comprehensive technology offering including cloud computing, pipeline services, record management, web portal services, clinical workflow, sequencing as a service and automated lab services.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include statements about, among other things: Fulgent’s testing solutions and services, including its laboratory capacity and related matters; the Company’s identification and evaluation of opportunities, estimates of market size and its ability to capitalize on opportunities to grow its business.

Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and relate to future events or circumstances or the Company’s future performance, and they are based on management’s current assumptions, expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on the Company’s business. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which may cause the forward-looking events and circumstances described in this press release to not occur, and actual results to differ materially and adversely from those described in or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the preventive public health measures that may continue to impact demand for its genetics tests and the pandemic’s effects on the global supply chain; the market potential for, and the rate and degree of market adoption of, the Company’s tests, including its newly-developed tests for COVID-19 and genetic testing generally; the Company’s ability to capture a sizable share of the developing market for genetic and COVID-19 testing and to compete successfully in these markets, including its ability to continue to develop new tests that are attractive to its various customer markets, its ability to maintain turnaround times and otherwise keep pace with rapidly changing technology; the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and assets into its business strategy and to derive value from its investments; the Company’s ability to maintain the low internal costs of its business model, particularly as the Company makes investments across its business; the Company’s ability to maintain an acceptable margin on sales of its tests, particularly in light of increasing competitive pressures and other factors that may continue to reduce the Company’s sale prices for and margins on its tests; risks related to volatility in the Company’s results, which can fluctuate significantly from period to period; risks associated with the composition of the Company’s customer base, which can fluctuate from period to period and can be comprised of a small number of customers that account for a significant portion of the Company’s revenue; the Company’s ability to grow and diversify its customer base and increase demand from existing and new customers; the Company’s investments in its infrastructure, including its sales organization and operational capabilities, and the extent to which these investments impact the Company’s business and performance and enable it to manage any growth it may experience in future periods; the Company’s level of success in obtaining coverage and adequate reimbursement and collectability levels from third-party payors for its tests; the Company’s level of success in establishing and obtaining the intended benefits from CSI, partnerships, joint ventures or other relationships; the Company’s compliance with the various evolving and complex laws and regulations applicable to its business and its industry; risks associated with the Company’s international operations; the Company’s ability to protect its proprietary technology platform; and general industry, economic, political and market conditions. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, forward-looking statements should not be relied on or viewed as predictions of future events.

The forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or to changes in expectations, except as otherwise required by law.

The Company’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021 and the other reports it files from time to time, including subsequently filed quarterly and current reports, are made available on the Company’s website upon their filing with the SEC. These reports contain more information about the Company, its business and the risks affecting its business.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210923005769/en/

The Blueshirt Group

Nicole Borsje, 415-217-2633; nicole@blueshirtgroup.com

Source: Fulgent Genetics, Inc.

FAQ

What is Fulgent Genetics' partnership with the Houston Health Department about?

Fulgent Genetics is partnering with the Houston Health Department to provide COVID-19 testing for students in the Houston-area public schools during the school year.

What type of COVID-19 testing is Fulgent Genetics providing?

Fulgent Genetics is providing RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 to students whose parents consent for testing.

Which school districts are involved in Fulgent Genetics' COVID-19 testing initiative?

The involved school districts include Houston ISD and Aldine ISD.

How will the COVID-19 testing process work for students?

Students are statistically selected weekly, and their samples will be delivered to Fulgent's laboratory daily, with results available before the next school day.

Why is Fulgent Genetics considered a trusted partner for COVID-19 testing?

Fulgent is seen as a trusted partner due to its ability to deliver high-quality RT-PCR testing with rapid turnaround times.