Canada’s procurement of COVID-19 rapid test
COVID-19 testing technologies are advancing as the pandemic continues. The Government of Canada continues to pursue agreements to procure rapid tests for provinces and territories, northern and Indigenous communities, and federal organizations.
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Rapid test agreements
Numbers current as of: March 17, 2022
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada, has purchased millions of point-of-care and antigen rapid tests. These agreements help to increase COVID-19 testing capacity with authorized, proven and effective technologies. PSPC has put in place contracts for the procurement of rapid tests totaling $4 billion.
The table below outlines Canada’s agreements with suppliers for rapid tests. These tests have been procured to fulfil immediate, emerging and long-term requirements. Suppliers deliver rapid tests based on the schedule outlined in each specific contract. Canada continues to receive shipments of rapid tests on a regular basis.
Rapid test agreements with suppliers | Supplier | Name of test | Tests procured |
| Abbott Rapid Diagnostics ULC | ID NOW and Panbio tests | 142,979,600 |
| Artron | COVID-19 Antigen tests | 27,699,530 |
| BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) | BD Veritor SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests | 12,256,300 |
| Biomrieux Canada | RP2.1 Diagnostic test kits | 224,490 |
| BTNX | Rapid Response tests | 316,550,000 |
| CanAm | SD Biosensor tests | 1,663,700 |
| Cepheid | GeneXpert rapid tests | 1,452,980 |
| Lucira Health | Check It COVID-19 test kits | 264,248 |
| Precision Compounds | COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device (COV-S23) | 3,506,000 |
| Quidel | QuickVue and Sofia tests | 17,350,000 |
| Hoffmann - La Roche | SD Biosensor tests | 11,250,000 |
| Switch Health Holdings | SD Biosensor tests | 60,350,000 |
| Trimedic | Assuretech tests | 7,837,640 |
| Total | 603,384,488 |
Request for standing offer
To continue to increase national testing and screening capacity with authorized, proven and effective technologies, the Government of Canada has issued a Request for Standing Offer (RFSO) for the supply of Health Canada-authorized COVID-19 rapid tests.
On behalf of Health Canada, PSPC is establishing standing offers with qualified companies for the supply and delivery of rapid tests on an as-needed basis. These standing offers help ensure a reliable supply chain and better position the federal government to respond to increased testing demands in the future.
Rapid tests are procured through this RFSO to meet Health Canada’s requirements. This can include tests to distribute to provinces and territories, northern and Indigenous communities, federal organizations, or other organizations for workplace screening.
This RFSO is a way of ensuring the Government of Canada can secure rapid tests for immediate needs without delay. At this time, the RFSO includes antigen rapid tests. As needs for other types of rapid tests emerge, the RFSO can be expanded to procure other types of rapid tests for the Government of Canada as well.
Types of rapid tests