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Quidel Test Cleared for Swine Flu Identification

Quidel, a San Diego-based maker of rapid flu tests, has been cleared by the FDA to add swine flu to its scope of detectable influenza subtypes on its QuickVue product, the company said Sept. 17.

While its QuickVue Influenza A + B test kit test detected swine flu in a positive human sample, the company said its reliability for detecting the strain has not been established.

Quidel began shipping thousands of test kits to Mexico when concerns over swine flu first surfaced in April. Since then, the company has been making kits seven days a week.

CEO Douglas Bryant told the Business Journal in September that Quidel typically makes 5 million flu kits a year, but this season would require two to three times that amount.

Its QuickVue Influenza A + B product has the ability to distinguish between 34 different strains of influenza A and 13 influenza B strains.

Shares of Quidel, traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol QDEL, closed down 3 percent Sept. 17 at $16.92.

, Heather Chambers

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