Ottawa’s Spartan Bioscience has received Health Canada approval for its rapid, accurate and portable COVID-19 test, which means that tests can now be shipped to Spartan’s federal and provincial government partners. Spartan’s test consists of a portable DNA analyzer called the Spartan Cube, which is the size of a coffee cup.
The Cube relies on optical filters from Iridian Spectral Technologies (Ottowa, Canada) and performs the test with Spartan’s COVID-19 test cartridges and proprietary swabs, manufactured in Ottawa. The automated test can be operated by non-laboratory personnel in settings such as airports, border crossings, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, clinics, and remote communities .
"We are proud that Iridian’s optical filters are a key component in this instrument, and would like to congratulate Spartan Bioscience on obtaining Health Canada approval. Through an extensive manufacturing effort by all of our employees, we have been able to supply optical filters to support the increased production of the Spartan Cube," says, Robert Bruce, Iridian Vice President of Business Operations. "Thanks to all of our dedicated employees, especially those at work every day at our operation here in Ottawa, making our contribution to this Canadian/Ottawa success story possible. We stand ready to continue supporting Spartan and their ongoing needs in helping to fight the pandemic."
Spartan’s test was developed with funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). Spartan’s technology is currently in use by expert organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the New York State Department of Health, and Mayo Clinic.