BGI

BGI is a global biotechnology company specializing in research and development based on the study of genomics. It provides various entities and organizations with equipment, technical support, and solutions (such as precision medicine). The company was founded in 1999 and was initially established for the Human Genome Project.The company has more than one hundred locations worldwide in places such as China, Australia, the United States, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

BGI offers a variety of products and services for the biotechnology industry. Below is more information for each of its offerings.

BGI was established for human genome research and still conducts that today. The company also conducts animal and plant, microbiology, and disease research and research on universal sequencing. Each research area has specific projects that are being undertaken. Some examples of projects in-progress as BGI are the International Thousand Human Genome Project, the Earth Biogenome Project, and the Million Microbiomes from Humans Project (MMHP).

BGI provides clinical testing for areas including reproductive health and tumor prevention. It also provides In Vitro diagnostics for areas such as pre- and post-natal testing. BGI has diagnostic services for judicial purposes as and paternity testing.

BGI Desktop Sequencer

BGI has developed multiple pieces of genomic sequencing equipment that are available for purchase, although they are unavailable in the United States, Spain, and Germany. A robotic ultrasound system has been developed by BGI that can be purchased by appropriate parties.

In May 2022, reports began surfacing regarding an outbreak of the monkeypox virus spreading globally. By July 2022, the World Health Organization had declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. BGI had developed a Monkeypox Virus Nucleic Acid Detection Kit (Fluorescent PCR), and it received European In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices Directive (CE-IVDD) approval, allowing for it to be used for testing in an attempt to curb the outbreak. The test uses the fluorescence PCR method to detect the MPV-1 gene and MPV-2 gene fragment of the monkeypox virus. Concerned parties can submit rash fluid, nasopharyngeal swabs, pharyngeal swabs, and serum samples for testing, and they get results in as little as forty minutes after the samples have been collected.