On Apr. 8, 2020, Nanomix announced that the company had been awarded $570,000 in funding from Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These funds supported development and testing of COVID-19 point-of-care tests that will run on the Nanomix eLab analyzer, which provides results in less than 15 minutes.

The Nanomix COVID-19 assays detect either SARS-CoV-2 antigens or antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 to identify both active infections and previous exposure to the virus. The portable Nanomix eLab analyzer can be used in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, urgent care centers and emergency medical care.

The Nanomix approach can enhance current COVID-19 molecular-testing approaches and greatly increase the number of people who can be tested in any given period. The new assays can distinguish SARS-CoV-2 from other coronaviruses, as well as a common flu strain, to aid in the diagnosis of patients with non-specific respiratory symptoms. The company expected to complete development in early June and file for Emergency Use Authorization shortly afterward.