Primerdesign is a UK-based biotechnology company that designs and sells products for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
History
Primerdesign was founded in 2005 by Dr Jim Wicks, Dr Rob Powell and Professor Tom Brown within the University of Southampton to focus on PCR and DNA chemistry. The company has grown since then and its products have been used in over 100 countries. The company has a portfolio of over 400 qPCR detection kits and over 9000 research targets.[1]
Swine flu detection kit
During the swine flu pandemic in 2009, Primerdesign developed the world's first swine flu detection kit.[2] The kit, which was designed within a fortnight, was designed to give results within two hours.[3] The first shipment of rapid result tests was dispatched to Mexico in April 2009 and is now being used in more than 30 countries.