GeneMatrix has signed a contract to export its new coronavirus diagnostic kit, NeoPlex COVID-19, to the United Arab Emirates, the company said Thursday.

The contract is GeneMatrix's first supply of test kits to the Middle East after acquiring the Conformite Europeen (CE) mark for the NeoPlex COVID-19 and the export permission from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The contract amount totals 578 million won ($460,000).

GeneMatrix has also signed export contracts with Lithuania, Italy and Chile.

NeoPlex COVID-19, designed to diagnose the new coronavirus, satisfies the requirements demanded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, according to the company.

The test kit can detect the virus within three hours by using real time-polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR). The equipment also increases user convenience with its analysis software, GeneMatrix said.

The company expects it will be able to expand shipments to the Middle East country, the UAE was the first nation to show great interest in Korean companies' test kits and discussed with the Korean government how to protect its citizens from COVID-19.

"Many other countries, including the U.S., Germany, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam, are asking for the supply of NeoPlex COVID-19," a company official said. "All of our employees are working with emergency mindsets so that the company can fulfill the explosive demands for our diagnostic kits."