BARDA and Cue Health will collaborate to accelerate the development, validation, and manufacturing of a portable, molecular diagnostic test capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in less than 25 minutes using a simple nasal swab. In this public-private partnership, BARDA will provide approximately $13.6 million and expertise for development, validation and manufacturing of the test.
The test is part of the Cue Health Monitoring System, a portable device that not only can perform a molecular test but also can connect patients to telemedicine consultations through the system’s mobile health platform. The test on the Cue platform aims to potentially have significant impact on the management of the current pandemic by augmenting routine screening and testing to be conducted at point-of-care, including alternate care sites.
Test results in under 25 minutes could considerably improve the ability to manage care during a pandemic by helping to triage patients in a more efficient and effective manner.
