(Yicai Global) Dec. 2 -- Chinese Covid-19 test kit makers such as Andon Health, Orient Gene Biotech, and Cofoe Medical Technology could see their share of the overseas market expand as international demand remains high following the discovery of the omicron variant.

The global need for testing will increase, which will boost sales of Chinese antigen test reagents, according to Wei Zhihua, a senior researcher with Wisdomshire Asset Management. Chinese firms with a high proportion of overseas business will be affected the most, Wei said.

Both the nucleic acid testing reagents used in China and the antigen detection reagents commonly used abroad are theoretically effective in detecting the omicron variant, but they need to pass experimental verification, according to a manager at Orient Gene.

Huzhou-based Orient Gene, which does 80 percent of its business outside of China, is applying for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration, the person said.

Andon Health’s antigen detection kit can spot the omicron variant, the Tianjin-based reagent maker said on Nov. 29, and its antigen self-testing kit is on sale in the United States for USD6.99 each on Amazon.

The company’s shares [SHE: 002432] surged by the bourse-imposed daily limit for 12 of the 13 trading days from Nov. 15 to yesterday. After approaching the maximum gain today, the stock closed up 1.8 percent at CNY21.24 (USD3.33).

Cofoe Medical’s antigen detection products, antibody detection products and neutralizing antibody tests have all obtained the European Union’s CE certification and are on the Chinese commerce ministry’s export whitelist, the Changsha-based medical equipment maker told investors on Nov. 29. Overseas sales have begun, with good feedback, it said.

As of Feb. 10, 56 Covid-19 testing reagents had been approved in China, according to the website of the National Medical Products Administration. Twenty-six were nucleic acid testing reagents, 27 antibody were detection kits and three were antigen detection reagents.

Editor: Peter Thomas