The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense yesterday awarded $481 million to Cue Health Inc. to expand production of a point-of-care COVID-19 molecular test with capabilities to produce results in 20 minutes.

Cue said the highly sensitive test uses a nasal swab sample to detect RNA of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. HHS said the partnership allows Cue to increase production to 100,000 test kits per day by March 2021.

Also yesterday, HHS and DOD announced a separate, $31 million agreement with Cytiva to expand the company’s capacity to produce items essential to the production of COVID-19 vaccines such as liquid and dry powder cell culture media, cell culture buffers, mixer bags, and bioreactors.

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