Apple Awards COPAN Diagnostic $10 Million USD to Manufacture COVID-19 Sample Kits

Apple is continuing its fight against the global COVID-19.

Apple will award $10 million USD to aid COPAN Diagnostics, a top manufacturer of sample collection kits used in COVID-19 testing, in its efforts to ramp up production as U.S. hospitals contend with shortages of necessary supplies, the company announced Thursday.

The Cupertino company said that COPAN Diagnostic’s efforts are playing a “crucial role” in COVID-19 testing across the United States, which at the time of writing, has the highest number of confirmed cases as well as fatalities.

COPAN specializes in infectious disease diagnostics, including the development of specimen collection kits. As the pandemic continues to gain momentum in the US, these kits have been turned toward COVID-19 testing efforts.

“We feel a deep sense of responsibility to do everything we can to help medical workers, patients, and communities support the global response to COVID-19,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “COPAN is one of the world’s most innovative manufacturers of sample collection kits for COVID-19 testing, and we’re thrilled to partner with them so they can expand as we work to address this critical issue for our nation. I couldn’t be prouder of our teams for bringing all of their energy, passion, and innovative spirit to supporting the country’s COVID-19 response.”

Derived from Apple’s $5 billion USD Advanced Manufacturing Fund, the grant will allow Copan to produce more than 1 million kits per week by early July, up from several thousand per week at its current capacity. In addition, Apple will assist the medical supply firm with the sourcing of necessary materials and support Copan’s move into a larger facility based in Southern California.

COPAN Diagnostics is a global player in the field of specimen collection and preservation for infectious disease diagnostics. The company’s sample collection kits have revolutionized the diagnostic industry and play a critical role in the COVID-19 testing process.

Apple has donated millions of dollars to coronavirus relief efforts and has distributed close to 10 million face shields to healthcare providers. The company is also working with Google to develop decentralized contact-tracing technology for mobile applications.

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