CIGA Healthcare: against COVID-19 Company
Entity: CIGA Healthcare
Category: Test Kits
Description: CIGA Healthcare is a dynamic company that specializes in rapid test diagnostics. The company's manufacturing operations comply with the British Retail Consortium. This is a requirement to supply many multinational pharmacy chains and retailers. The company's distributors can supply retailers with the opportunity to have a carefully selected range of fast selling self test products.
Project: UK Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC)
Summary: The 'UK Rapid Test Consortium, UK-RTC' comprises Oxford University, BBI Solutions, Abingdon Health, CIGA Healthcare, Omega Diagnostics and has been launched to design and develop a new antibody test to determine whether people have developed immunity after contracting the virus. Professors Tara Moore and Jim McLaughlin have joined the UK Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC) via local company CIGA Healthcare. It is hoped a successful test will determine whether people have developed immunity after contracting the virus; along with other companies and the University of Oxford, a six-month memorandum of understanding has been agreed to develop and manufacture the test. If successful, manufacturing can take place in each company, including at a site in Northern Ireland. Professor John Newton, national coordinator of the UK coronavirus testing programme, also warned the public against purchasing unapproved tests. Officials are working to produce a reliable test which can be used in the community and help to end lockdown safely. As part of the government’s National Testing Plan, the expertise and resources of the UK’s life sciences industry are being pooled to build a large British diagnostics industry as quickly as possible.
