Mesa Biotech announced today that it is shipping 10,000 of its Accula SARS-CoV-2 molecular rapid point-of-care tests this week for detecting COVID-19.
The San Diego-based company’s palm-sized testing platform is designed to enable “near-patient” testing outside a central laboratory with diagnostic results in 30 minutes.
Accula uses reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, through throat and nasal swab samples. Its point-of-care capabilities make it usable at temporary facilities, physician office labs, urgent care sites and long-term nursing facilities.
The technology was developed at Los Alamos National Lab with support from National Institutes of Health grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Western Regional Centers for Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease program. Last month, Mesa won a $561,000 contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop the test.
“We will ship 10,000 tests this week and continue executing on our capacity expansion initiatives,” Mesa co-founder & CEO Hong Cai said in a news release. “I am so proud of everyone in our company for their unwavering dedication during unprecedented circumstances to help meet the critical need for rapid near patient COVID-19 testing.”
