Colorado company announces exclusive rights to new COVID-19 test

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (KRDO) - A small pharmaceutical company just south of Denver is making news after announcing it secured exclusive rights to distribute a COVID-19 test that takes only minutes to get results.

Aytu BioScience company officials said it takes two to 10 minutes for results through their blood droplet test. A drop of blood is put on a disposable device that senses the COVID-19 antibody.

Aytu BioScience CEO Josh Disbrow told our partner station, 9News in Denver, that the test was developed in China and has been in use there for the past six weeks.

The company’s stock is up more than 200% after announcing the distribution rights, but Disbrow still needs to get emergency approval on the testing kits from the Food and Drug Administration before they can be used.

Health expert Dr. Payal Kohli told 9News the testing data doesn’t appear to be peer-reviewed. However, if the numbers are correct, she believes this could make a significant impact on the number of tests professionals can administer here in Colorado and all over the U.S.

UCHealth started conducting its own tests over the weekend, with a 24 hour turn around time on results.

The El Paso County Public Health Department says, as of right now, it's still advising people with mild symptoms to stay home and not try to get tested. The department says it's saving the limited supply for healthcare professionals and people with severe symptoms. Officials said they could change that advice if or when more tests become available.