Business

Randox invests £30m and 200 new jobs in specialised virus testing lab

Randox managing director Dr Peter FitzGerald and Secretary of State Brandon Lewis
Randox managing director Dr Peter FitzGerald and Secretary of State Brandon Lewis Randox managing director Dr Peter FitzGerald and Secretary of State Brandon Lewis

GLOBAL diagnostics firm Randox is investing £30 million in a new specialised Covid-19 testing lab in Antrim, and is also creating 200 jobs.

The company, which is currently conducting tests as part of the UK-wide testing programme, will built the laboratory at the town's science park, the first step in a wider diagnostics investment programme from Randox.

Dr Peter FitzGerald, managing director of Randox Laboratories, said: “An incredible amount of work has gone into making this cutting-edge testing facility a reality in a relatively short space of time, because we know effective testing is the way to both save lives and promote a timely return to a more normal society.”

The opening of the new laboratory follows Randox’s announcement that it is recruiting new staff across science, engineering and manufacturing in support of its role within the national testing programme.

The 200 new positions will be involved in the testing of potential Covid-19 samples, as well as the construction of 200 new state-of-the-art diagnostic analysers which will significantly increase Randox’s capacity for testing.

Dr FitzGerald added: “Now that we have in place the infrastructure and laboratory space required to enhance our testing capacity, we look forward to implementing the next step in our Covid-19 investment programme.

“By accelerating the build schedule for new specialised equipment, and hiring 200 associated workers , we will further enhance the government’s national testing scheme, as well as facilitate testing more broadly across the general populace.”

Randox manufacturing manager David Martin and Secretary of State Brandon Lewis
Randox manufacturing manager David Martin and Secretary of State Brandon Lewis Randox manufacturing manager David Martin and Secretary of State Brandon Lewis

Secretary of State Brandon Lewis, who visited the site earlier this week, said: “I was impressed with the dedication of staff and the top-class facilities at Randox.

“This investment will help support the UK’s nationwide effort to fight the coronavirus and ultimately save lives."

Randox,which has more than 1,500 employees including 430 research scientists and engineers, distributes is products in 145 countries.

As well as its base in Co Antrim, it has other key manufacturing and research and development sites in Dungloe, Bangalore and Washington DC.