NEW YORK – MedMira said last week that it has gained Health Canada approval for a rapid point-of-care immunoassay for HIV and syphilis.
The Nova Scotia, Canada-based company said that it plans to launch its Multiplo Rapid TP/HIV Test across Canada for the detection of HIV 1/2 and syphilis in a finger prick blood sample. The firm said that it plans to make the test available to communities across Canada through a collaboration with Reach Nexus, which is a Canadian Institutes of Health Research-funded research group that is based at St. Michael's Hospital within Unity Health Toronto.
"The Health Canada Medical Device License for professional use will immediately address critical gaps in healthcare settings at a fraction of the costs of conventional testing systems," MedMira CEO Hermes Chan said in a statement.
Sean Rourke, Reach Nexus director, added that rapid testing options are needed in Canada to identify undiagnosed HIV, syphilis, and other blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections.
The firm noted that it also offers the test in the EU and Colombia, among other markets.