New Studies Find Bio-Rad’s QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System Can Detect COVID-19 With Greater Sensitivity and Precision Than Other Existing Molecular Tests

HERCULES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb), a global leader of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, today announced that in two studies published this month, ahead of peer-review, researchers in China reported that Bio-Rad’s QX200 Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) System showed superior sensitivity and precision for clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) compared to existing test methods that are performed using qPCR.

In the first study¹, clinicians in Wuhan, China observed that a subset of infected individuals who tested negative for COVID-19 using qPCR tested positive using ddPCR. The findings suggest that ddPCR can reduce false negative results of COVID-19 without any increase to false positive results, and could be a powerful complement to the current standard of testing.

The second study², led by the National Institute of Metrology and provincial CDCs in China, also concluded that Droplet Digital PCR significantly improves diagnostic detection accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 from 28.2% to 87.4%, thereby reducing false negatives. Furthermore, they found that Droplet Digital PCR is more sensitive and suitable for low virus load specimens from patients under isolation and observation even without any clinical symptoms.

“Bio-Rad is working to make ddPCR-based tests available for COVID-19 detection and is partnering with Biodesix in Colorado to bring an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) test online,” said Norman Schwartz, Bio-Rad President and Chief Executive Officer. “By more quickly identifying those who test positive for the virus, individuals can be quarantined and receive treatment as quickly as possible, helping to contain the spread of COVID-19.”

¹https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.29.20029439v1
²https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.14.20036129v1

The referenced articles are preprints and have not been peer-reviewed. MedRxiv reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice. Articles on MedRxiv have not been finalized by authors, might contain errors, and report information that has not yet been accepted or endorsed in any way by the scientific or medical community.

BIO-RAD, DROPLET DIGITAL PCR, and ddPCR, are trademarks of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. in certain jurisdictions.

About Bio-Rad

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) is a global leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing a broad range of innovative products for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. With a focus on quality and customer service for over 65 years, our products advance the discovery process and improve healthcare. Our customers are university and research institutions, hospitals, public health and commercial laboratories, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, as well as applied laboratories that include food safety and environmental quality. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and has a global network of operations with more than 8,100 employees worldwide. Bio-Rad had revenues exceeding $2.3 billion in 2019. For more information, please visit bio-rad.com.

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