Fredericton company gets federal contract to supply COVID-19 test chemicals for country

A New Brunswick company has signed a contract with the federal government to provide enoughCOVID-19 test chemicals for the country,Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday.

Fredericton-based LuminUltraTechnologies Ltd. is "ramping up production to meet the weekly demandin all provinces," Trudeau told reporters during his daily update on Canada's response to the pandemic.

LuminUltra will provide enough chemicals for 500,000 testsper week for the next year,chairman and CEO Pat Whalentold CBC News.

"Everybody is very pleased and proud about having the opportunity to make this kind of difference," he said of the company's 75 employees.

"We are essentially providing one test for every Canadian as a crucial step towards defeating the pandemic, protecting Canadians and alleviating the human cost of this disease."'

Provinces have faced COVID-19 testing backlogs due to a shortage of supplies, including the chemical reagents required to complete the tests.

LuminUltraimmediately responded to the Prime Minister's call to action March 20 to join in the fight against thevirus by refocusing its efforts to develop the chemicalsneeded, said Whalen.

Given LuminUltra'sexpertise in developing rapid-results biological testing primarily for environmental applications, such as water, it was a natural extension for the company, he said.

But itstill took weeks of working nearly around-the-clockdays with Public Health Agency of Canada officials, said Whalen, describing it as an "exciting, very fast moving interesting time."

Shipment of the chemicalshas already started, he said.

The Public Health Agency of Canada will decide each weekhow the chemicals will be distributed among the labs across the country.

Setting up 2nd site and hiring

Whalen declined to discuss any other details of the contract.

Asked whether it's the biggest one the company has ever had, he replied, "It would be up there, yeah."

In order to boost production to meet the terms of the agreement,the company, headquartered on King Street,is setting up a second locationin the city, said Whalen.

It will be in an existing structure on the north side on Royal Road, he said, declining to divulge the exact location "because the plans are still coming together."

Ithink this is an example of New Brunswick innovation and New Brunswick companies coming forward and [being]heard and seen across the country and the influence they can have nationally.- Premier Blaine Higgs

The company also plans to hire10 to 15 employees, includingproduction staff and commercial roles.

"It's kind of a smorgasborgin different positions that we're currently advertising for."

Premier Blaine Higgscalled the news of LuminUltra'scontract "encouraging."

"It may be very symptomatic of what other capabilities may be hidden throughout our province that others can come forward and do similar things in other areas," he told reporters during the COVID-19 briefing in Fredericton on Wednesday.

"So Ijust commend them. Ithink this is an example of New Brunswick innovation and New Brunswick companies coming forward and [being]heard and seen across the country and the influence they can have nationally."

LuminUltra, in business forabout 25years,has dozens of Fortune 500 customers, sales in over 80 countries and operations in six countries.

It largely does microbetesting for municipalities and industrial customers, including pulp and paper mills and oil refineries.