Canada’s procurement of COVID-19 rapid tests
COVID-19 testing technologies are advancing as the pandemic continues. The Government of Canada continues to pursue agreements to procure rapid tests for provinces and territories, northern and Indigenous communities, and federal organizations.
On this page
- Rapid test agreements
- Request for standing offer
- Types of rapid tests
- Rapid tests distributed in Canada
- Related links
Rapid test agreements
Numbers current as of: September 20, 2022
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 has put in place contracts for the procurement of rapid tests totalling approximately $5 billion.
The table below outlines Canada's agreements with suppliers for rapid tests. These tests have been procured to fulfil immediate, emerging and long-term requirements. Suppliers deliver rapid tests based on the schedule outlined in each specific contract. Canada continues to receive shipments of rapid tests on a regular basis.
| Supplier | Name of test | Tests procured |
|---|---|---|
| Abbott Rapid Diagnostics ULC | ID NOW and Panbio tests | 165,154,600 |
| Artron Laboratories Inc. | COVID-19 Antigen tests | 48,699,530 |
| Becton Dickinson Canada Inc. | BD Veritor SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests | 12,256,300 |
| bioMérieux Canada Inc. | RP2.1 Diagnostic test kits | 224,490 |
| BTNX Inc. | Rapid Response tests | 404,050,760 |
| CanAm Scientific | SD Biosensor tests | 1,663,700 |
| Cepheid Canada ULC | GeneXpert rapid tests | 1,452,980 |
| Lucira Health Inc. | Check It COVID-19 test kits | 564,248 |
| Maverin Inc. | ACON Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test | 41,000,000 |
| Precision Compounds Inc. | AssureTech COV-S23 tests | 3,506,000 |
| Quidel Canada ULC | QuickVue and Sofia tests | 17,350,000 |
| Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. | SD Biosensor tests and SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Self Test NASAL | 36,851,225 |
| Switch Health Holdings Inc. | SD Biosensor tests | 60,350,000 |
| Trimedic Supply Network Ltd. | Assuretech tests | 7,837,640 |
| MSS Ltd. | Flowflex SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test | 5,000,000 |
| 2San Healthcare Group Inc. | 2San Healthcare PCL Self Test Covid-19 | 250,000 |
| bioLytical Laboratories | Istatis COVID-19 Antigen Home Test | 5,000,000 |
| Total | 811,211,473 | |
Request for standing offer
To increase national testing and screening capacity with authorized, proven and effective technologies, the Government of Canada issued a Request for Standing Offer (RFSO) for the supply of Health Canada-authorized COVID-19 rapid tests.
On behalf of Health Canada, PSPC established 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 are procured through these standing offers to meet Health Canada's requirements. This can include tests to distribute to provinces and territories, northern and Indigenous communities, federal organizations, or other organizations for workplace screening.
These standing offers are a way of ensuring the Government of Canada can secure rapid tests for immediate needs without delay.
Types of rapid tests
Rapid tests distributed in Canada
The Public Health Agency of Canada is supporting provincial and territorial COVID-19 testing capacity and distributing rapid tests across Canada. Learn more:
Number of rapid tests distributed in Canada
Related links
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