(Yicai Global) March 19 -- BGI Genomics, one of China's leading biochemical companies, plans to start selling its nucleic acid test kits for Covid-19 in the United States.

The product, a real-time fluorescent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction kit for detecting SARS-nCoV-2, has already obtained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for pre-emergency use, the company said in a press release yesterday.

Under an FDA policy on tests for Covid-19 during the public health emergency issued on March 16, BGI can sell the products directly to clinics during the pandemic from March 17 onwards before getting formal FDA approval. The tests for free sale certification in the European Union earlier this month.

Shares in the firm [SHE:300676] were down 1.81 percent at CNY72.27 (USD10.22) at noon today.