NEW YORK – Infectious disease testing startup Curative announced Tuesday it has acquired CLIA-certified analytical laboratory KorvaLabs for undisclosed terms.
The two companies had previously partnered in March to manufacture and process Curative's PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 test, which received Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration in April. The test detects SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids in oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, and nasal swabs, along with oral fluid specimens. The use of oral fluid samples decreases exposure risk for healthcare workers and requires less personal protective equipment than nasopharyngeal swab tests.
So far, the companies have processed 245,371 tests and have the capacity to provide 14,000 tests per day, Curative said. The Los Angeles-based company was founded this past January to develop tests for sepsis but turned its attention to COVID-19 in the midst of the pandemic.
San Dimas, California-based KorvaLabs' facilities were converted into dedicated spaces for producing and processing Curative's test.
"Curative has worked in close partnership with KorvaLabs for months now, so our decision to move forward with the acquisition just serves to formalize that relationship," Curative Founder and CEO Fred Turner said. "Since day one, our mission has been to produce, distribute, and process as many tests as possible."