BD Developing COVID-19 Diagnostics with Federal Government

Becton Dickinson (BD) is getting $24.7 million in funding under a contract with the federal Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to support the development of five COVID-19 diagnostic tests that can also identify influenza and other respiratory viruses.

The five new combination tests will include a rapid antigen test that can detect SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and influenza B at the point-of-care.

The contract also covers four separate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests: for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for hospital or other moderate-throughput labs; for SARS-CoV-1, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), seasonal coronaviruses, and novel or emerging coronaviruses; for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B and RSV for core, reference or other high-throughput labs; and for SARS-CoV-1, MERS, seasonal coronaviruses and novel or emerging coronaviruses in order to address future outbreaks in core, reference or other high-throughput labs.