Q&M unit gets lab licence to conduct testing services for Covid-19

A SUBSIDIARY of Q&M Dental Group has been granted a healthcare institution licence from the Ministry of Health to operate a clinical laboratory to conduct SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing services for Covid-19. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes the Covid-19 disease.

Pursuant to the grant of the licence, the subsidiary, Acumen Diagnostics, will conduct clinical laboratory testing using its Acu-Corona 2.0 Covid-19 PCR test kits, the mainboard-listed company said in a bourse filing late on Tuesday.

It added that Acumen Diagnostics had participated in an external quality assurance programme and passed the proficiency testing for SARS-CoV2 implemented by College of American Pathologists.

Acumen Diagnostics, which is 51 per cent owned by Q&M, is a joint venture between the dental group and scientist Ong Siew Hwa, the founder of biotech company Acumen Research Laboratories (ARL).

Acumen Diagnostics acquired Covid-19 test kits and related business from ARL in July, Q&M had said.

ARL has been developing rapid PCR-based culture-independent molecular diagnostic tests with a focus on infectious diseases. As of April this year, its Acu-Corona 2.0 Diagnostic Test had been given provisional authorisation by the Health Sciences Authority, which means the test can be supplied to healthcare institutions, private hospitals, medical clinics and clinical laboratories in Singapore.

Q&M shares ended Tuesday at 47.5 Singapore cents, up 2.5 cents or 5.6 per cent.