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Supplier News
December 22, 2021

Securing COVID-19 rapid tests

COVID-19 testing technologies are advancing as the pandemic continues. The Government of Canada continues to pursue additional agreements to secure access to the most promising candidates.

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Rapid test agreements

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada, has purchased millions of point-of-care and antigen rapid tests. These agreements help to increase COVID-19 testing capacity with authorized, proven and effective technologies. PSPC’s contracts for the procurement of rapid tests total $1.76 billion.

Rapid test agreements with suppliers
SupplierTests securedName of test
Abbott Rapid Diagnostics ULC Up to 6.7 million ID NOW rapid tests
Abbott Rapid Diagnostics ULC Up to 67.5 million Panbio COVID-19 antigen rapid tests
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 12.2 million BD Veritor SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests
Biomérieux Canada 209,500 RP2.1 Diagnostic test kits
Cepheid 1,442,980 GeneXpert rapid tests
Quidel Sofia 850,000 COVID-19 rapid tests
Lucira Health 174,000 Check It COVID-19 test kits
BTNX 74.5 million Rapid Response tests
Quidel 7.5 million QuickVue tests
Hoffmann - La Roche 1.75 million SD Biosensor tests
Trimedic 10 million Assuretech tests
CanAm 1.6 million SD Biosensor tests
Switch Health Holdings 12 million SD Biosensor tests

Delivery schedules

Delivery schedules vary based on the specific agreements. All deliveries do not arrive at the same time. The suppliers continue to ship on a regular basis, on the schedule outlined in each contract.

Request for standing offer

To continue to increase national testing and screening capacity with authorized, proven and effective technologies, the Government of Canada has issued a Request for Standing Offer (RFSO) for the supply of Health Canada-authorized COVID-19 rapid tests.

On behalf of Health Canada, PSPC is establishing standing offers with qualified companies for the supply and delivery of rapid tests on an as-needed basis. These standing offers help ensure a reliable supply chain and better position the federal government to respond to increased testing demands in the future. Rapid tests procured through this RFSO are being distributed to provinces and territories, as well as federal organizations with workplace screening requirements.

This RFSO is a way of ensuring the Government of Canada can secure rapid tests for immediate needs without delay. At this time, the RFSO includes antigen rapid tests. As needs for other types of rapid tests emerge, the RFSO can be expanded to procure other types of rapid tests for the Government of Canada as well.

Types of rapid tests

Rapid tests distributed in Canada

The Public Health Agency of Canada distributes rapid tests to the provinces and territories, other government departments and remote, northern and Indigenous communities. Additional tests are also distributed in response to “hotspots” to help the provinces and territories manage outbreaks.