GenBody, a Korean diagnostics kit manufacturer, said Thursday that it has won a procurement contract with the blood management headquarters of the Korean Red Cross after outbidding both domestic and international competitors.
The Korean Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education in Korea.
Under the contract, GenBody will supply 604 units of its Hemonitor H1 devices and approximately 8.6 million disposable cuvettes to blood donation centers and donation buses operated by the Korean Red Cross over the next three years.
The Hemonitor H1 is a medical device for in vitro diagnostics that quantitatively analyzes hemoglobin concentration in capillary or venous blood. It plays a crucial role in determining blood donation eligibility and managing anemia. GenBody said that “ensuring donation eligibility is essential to maintaining both the safety and efficiency of the blood supply,” It noted that accurate hemoglobin measurement during donation was key to detecting anemia and securing appropriate blood supplies.
Designed for ease of use, the Hemonitor H1 features a compact design that operates on battery or USB power. GenBody added that the device provides lab-quality accuracy with automatic calibration and can deliver results within three seconds using just one drop (8-10 µL) of capillary blood from a fingertip, enabling rapid diagnosis.
Additionally, the cuvettes, which are essential disposable consumables used with the Hemonitor H1, act as reagents. GenBody said their usage is expected to increase in proportion to the number of blood donations, leading to steady sales.
GenBody has either completed or is in the process of registering the Hemonitor H1 in several countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya. As a result of these efforts, the company said it anticipates securing additional contracts not only with the Korean Red Cross but also with international blood donation organizations.
The application of the Hemonitor H1 is also expected to expand into various medical fields, such as obstetrics, gynecology, and family medicine, both domestically and internationally, where hemoglobin level measurement is crucial for managing anemia.
"We are very pleased that the Hemonitor H1 has been recognized for its excellence through this procurement contract,” said Jeong Jeom-gyu, CEO of GenBody. He added that the company will continue to innovate in vitro diagnostic solutions and provide comprehensive tools for diagnosing and managing various diseases, thereby strengthening its position in the global market.