Coronavirus company news summary – Health Canada authorises Guide Sensmart’s fever warning system – UNICEF takes delivery of Covid-19 test kits

Health Canada has added the Guide IR236 IR Fever Warning System, which is manufactured by Guide Sensmart, to the list of medical devices authorised for Covid-19 use. The automated infrared thermal imaging system provides smart, quick and accurate temperature screening. It is hoped it can help identify people who may have a fever, to reduce the spread of the pandemic.

Swift Biosciences has announced that it will be the exclusive distributor of BillionToOne's RNA extraction-free Covid-19 Test Kit. The kit, which has recieved Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is identifies the Covid-19 virus in specimens from nasal swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs, or oropharyngeal swabs.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has taken the delivery of 115,800 Covid-19 test kits to aid in the mitigation of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. IHS Towers’ Nigerian subsidiary, IHS Nigeria funded the supplies.

BioGX BV has launched a CE-IVD marked test for detection of the Covid-19 causing SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as Influenza A, Influenza B and respiratory syncytial virus RNA. The test will be carried out using the BD MAX System. It is provided in the BioGX's Sample-Ready™ format, with the reagents that are needed for the for real-time PCR lyophilised in one tube.