First Coronavirus Rapid Tests Go To Denver First Responders

ENGLEWOOD, CO — A pharmaceutical company in Colorado has developed a rapid test for the new coronavirus, and the first 100,000 kits have been completed, the company said. The Denver Police Department has bought the first 2,750 test kits.

Aytu BioScience, based in Englewood, developed the COVID-19 IgG/IgM test for professional use only. The test delivers results between 2 and 10 minutes.

Josh Disbrow, the company's chief executive officer, said the demand for the tests has been "substantial."

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"Upon receipt of our initial product shipment on March 31st, we immediately went to work to prepare the test kits for commercial distribution, Disbrow said in a statement. "The Aytu team has worked very hard over the last two days to relabel all 100,000 tests, and we're now shipping product to our customers across the country.

"Our public safety personnel are doing outstanding work in our communities throughout this crisis, so we're glad to be partnering with Denver's first responders in this fight."

Aytu BioScience has increased its next order size to 500,000 kits, which will go to healthcare professionals and first responders.

The test detects antibodies for the virus in blood, serum or plasma samples of people who have signs and symptoms.

The company has also expanded its distribution rights for the rapid test to Canada and Mexico.

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