BGI Genomics Co. and its U.S. subsidiary BGI Americas Corp., received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. FDA for its RT-PCR kit for detecting SARS-CoV-2.

BGI’s highly sensitive test can return results within three hours and is intended for the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and throat swabs.

“The authorization of our diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the US will provide high-quality, high-volume testing capabilities to the US, and enable medical professionals to respond quickly to diagnose patients, preventing further spread of infection,” said Ye Yin, CEO of BGI Genomics.