Ottawa based Spartan Bioscience announced Monday they received approval from Health Canada for their devices adapted from their DNA test kits.
They’re using funds the federal government released last month to help combat the virus.
Alberta will be receiving 100,000 swabs and 250 testing devices.
“Alberta has been one of the fastest jurisdictions in the world for testing of COVID-19. However, the threat to the health of all Albertans remains,” said Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health in a release.
“We have recognized a gap in our testing and I am pleased AHS is working swiftly with industry to find ways to ensure rapid testing for the virus is accessible for people in rural and remote communities.”
The kits only take about an hour to produce results and will be used in areas where the province does not have a laboratory to drop tests off at – specifically outside of Calgary and Edmonton.
While Alberta isn’t the only province with an order in, the kits are expected to begin shipping around the country immediately.
