- Cannabis company, Empower Clinics (CSE:CBDT) has started COVID-19 antibody testing at its Sun Valley Health clinics in Phoenix, Arizona
- This move is the company’s first step in a four-phase national testing program
- Empower secured the rapid test kits through supply agreements with NanoID Technologies and Emunah Trust, LLC
- The World Health Organisation continues to stress the necessity of mass testing to contain the spread of COVID-19
- Empower Clinics (CBDT) is up 46.15 per cent, with shares trading at C$0.095
Cannabis company, Empower Clinics (CSE:CBDT) has started COVID-19 antibody testing at its Sun Valley Health clinics in Phoenix, Arizona.
The testing will involve clinic phlebotomists drawing patients’ blood, which they will send to an FDA-approved COVID-19 laboratory partner. Test results should be available within 48 hours.
The laboratory only submitted a request for FDA approval on March 16, 2020. The fast-tracked approval of such facilities is occurring under the Emergency Use Authorisation.
The in-clinic testing in Arizona is the first phase of a four-phase nationwide testing program rollout. The second phase involves offering a rapid COVID-19 antibody test, which can produce results within 15 minutes. Empower will offer this option in-clinic, using a drive-up service, or through an outbound door-step service. Phase Two should begin in May 2020.
Phase Three will extend the program to Business Employee Testing, to help workers get back to work safely. Empower will offer rapid COVID-19 tests to businesses on a one-time basis, repeat basis, and/or subscription basis. This service will also commence in May 2020.
The fourth phase is the nationwide rollout of all the company’s testing services across the United States. For those who can’t access Empower’s clinics, there will be an option to purchase tests online or via phone. Phase Four of the program will likely start in 2020’s third quarter.
Empower’s CEO, Steven McAuley, commented on the COVID-19 testing program.
“Our team are ready to meet the crisis head-on. We have ensured that the test processes and the test kits we use are approved in the United States under the Emergency Use Authorisation as defined by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” he said.
Empower secured the test kits through supply agreements with two suppliers, NanoID Technologies and Emunah Trust, LLC.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated the necessity of mass testing, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19. WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, echoed this vital message.
“Make no mistake: we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time. We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test,” he said.
Empower Clinics (CBDT) is up 46.15 per cent, with shares trading at C$0.095 at 10:30am EST.
