Health Canada Approves Quidel’s Sofia® SARS Antigen FIA Test for Screening of Asymptomatic Populations With Serial Testing
Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL) announces that its Sofia® SARS Antigen FIA has become the first rapid antigen test authorized by Health Canada for serial testing to detect active coronavirus infections in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.
The test, which shows 96.7% agreement with PCR results within the first five days of symptoms, will be utilized every three days for asymptomatic individuals. This approval aims to enhance widespread screening in Canada, vital for controlling COVID-19 transmission and aiding economic recovery.
- First rapid antigen test authorized by Health Canada for serial testing.
- Sofia SARS Antigen FIA shows 96.7% positive agreement with PCR results.
- New approval enables testing of asymptomatic individuals every three days.
- None.
Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL) (“Quidel”), a leading provider of rapid diagnostic testing solutions, cellular-based virology assays and molecular diagnostic systems, announced today that its Sofia® SARS Antigen FIA is the first rapid antigen test to receive authorization from Health Canada for serial testing for the detection of active coronavirus infection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic populations.
The Sofia SARS Antigen FIA is a lateral flow immunofluorescent sandwich assay that is used with the Sofia and Sofia 2 instrument intended for the qualitative detection of the nucleocapsid protein antigen from SARS-CoV-2 in nasal (NS) swab specimens directly from individuals who are suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider within the first five days of the onset of symptoms, or serial testing of asymptomatic populations using the Sofia SARS Antigen FIA test, at a minimum every 3 days/72 hours.
The Sofia® SARS Antigen FIA shows excellent performance within the first five days of the onset of symptoms, with positive results agreeing with PCR
“Quidel is proud to bring our most innovative and sensitive COVID-19 testing technologies to the Canadian market and make our tests as widely available as possible,” said Douglas Bryant, president and CEO of Quidel Corporation. “Health Canada’s approval opens the door to true democratization of the benefits of serial testing for both individuals experiencing symptoms and screening of people who may not have symptoms but are actively shedding the virus. Broadscale application of our Sofia® rapid antigen test for COVID-19 screening across Canada will catch asymptomatic cases early and limit virus spread and is an important tool to get Canadians back to work and getting the economy fully open again.”
1 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.19.21253964v2
About Quidel Corporation
Quidel Corporation (Nasdaq: QDEL) is a leading manufacturer of diagnostic solutions at the point of care, delivering a continuum of rapid testing technologies that further improve the quality of health care throughout the globe. An innovator for over 40 years in the medical device industry, Quidel pioneered the first FDA-cleared point-of-care test for influenza in 1999 and was the first to market a rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test in the U.S. Under trusted brand names Sofia®, Solana®, Lyra®, Triage® and QuickVue®, Quidel’s comprehensive product portfolio includes tests for a wide range of infectious diseases, cardiac and autoimmune biomarkers, as well as a host of products to detect COVID-19. With products made in America, Quidel’s mission is to provide patients with immediate and frequent access to highly accurate, affordable testing for the good of our families, our communities and the world. For more information about Quidel, visit quidel.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve material risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Many possible events or factors could affect our future results and performance, such that our actual results and performance may differ materially from those that may be described or implied in the forward-looking statements. As such, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Differences in actual results and performance may arise as a result of a number of factors including, without limitation: the impact and duration of the COVID-19 global pandemic; competition from other providers of diagnostic products; our ability to accurately forecast demand for our products and products in development, including in new market segments; our ability to develop new technologies, products and markets and to commercialize new products; our reliance on sales of our COVID-19 and influenza diagnostic tests; our reliance on a limited number of key distributors; quantity of our product in our distributors’ inventory or distribution channels; changes in the buying patterns of our distributors; the financial soundness of our customers and suppliers; lower than anticipated market penetration of our products; third-party reimbursement policies and potential cost constraints; our ability to meet demand for our products; interruptions, delays or shortages in the supply of raw materials, components and other products and services; failures in our information technology and storage systems; our exposure to data corruption, cyber-based attacks, security breaches and privacy violations; international risks, including but not limited to, economic, political and regulatory risks; continuing worldwide political and social uncertainty; our development, acquisition and protection of proprietary technology rights; intellectual property risks, including but not limited to, infringement litigation; the loss of Emergency Use Authorizations for our COVID-19 products and failures or delays in receipt of reviews or regulatory approvals, clearances or authorizations for new products or related to currently-marketed products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) or other regulatory authorities or loss of any previously received regulatory approvals, clearances or authorizations or other adverse actions by regulatory authorities; our contracts with government entities involve future funding, compliance and possible sanctions risks; product defects; changes in government policies and regulations and compliance risks related thereto; our ability to manage our growth strategy and successfully identify, acquire and integrate potential acquisition targets or technologies and our ability to obtain financing; our acquisition of Alere’s Triage® business presents certain risks to our business and operations; the level of our deferred payment obligations; our exposure to claims and litigation that could result in significant expenses and could ultimately result in an unfavorable outcome for us, including the ongoing litigation between us and Beckman Coulter, Inc.; we may need to raise additional funds to finance our future capital or operating needs; our debt, deferred and contingent payment obligations; competition for and loss of management and key personnel; business risks not covered by insurance; changes in tax rates and exposure to additional tax liabilities or assessments; and provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law that might delay or impede stockholder actions with respect to business combinations or similar transactions. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “might,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “intend,” “goal,” “project,” “strategy,” “future,” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. The risks described in reports and registration statements that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, should be carefully considered, including those discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10 K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10 Q. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly release any revision or update of these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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FAQ
What is the significance of Quidel's Sofia SARS Antigen FIA receiving Health Canada's authorization?
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