NW biotech specialist clinches second COVID-19 testing deal
Yourgene Health, the Manchester-based biotech specialist, said today that its partner, MyHealthChecked, has signed a second COVID-19 testing services agreement.
This will support the supply of the MyHealthChecked COVID-19 at-home nasal swab kit, PCR laboratory testing service and logistics for day two and day eight (D2/D8) coronavirus testing for international arrivals, to Boots UK, the health and beauty retailer and pharmacy group.
Through the service agreement, a proportion of the MyHealthChecked COVID-19 tests will be processed by Yourgene Genomic Services (YGS) at the company’s Citylabs 1.0 laboratory in Manchester which are well equipped to deal with the anticipated increased demand for D2/D8 testing.
In addition, samples processed at MyHealthChecked’s own laboratories will use Yourgene’s Clarigene SARS CoV-2 PCR CE-IVD test kit.
MyHealthChecked is currently the only at-home testing kit provider within Boots for General Testing and Fit-to-Fly services, as launched on April 7, this year, and is now accompanied by D2/D8 tests that will be available to purchase from Boots online, as of today (May 17).
Lyn Rees, chief executive of AIM-listed Yourgene Health and non-executive director of MyHealthChecked, said: “This further contract with Boots is another significant milestone for MyHealthChecked and Yourgene is pleased to continue supporting their COVID-19 testing service and product supply to their laboratory.
“With the introduction of the new traffic light system in the UK for global travel, we will see an increased demand for D2/D8 testing, as travel resumes, and this further contract for MyHealthChecked is a testament to the quality of the service provided.”
In April, Yourgene announced that it had partnered with Liverpool-based BioGrad Diagnostics in offering D2/D8 testing services after being added to The Department of Health and Social Care’s approved list of providers, as part of a fully-rounded North West-based service.
