Gradientech
Gradientech AB is a Swedish in vitro diagnostics company that develops the QuickMIC ultra-rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing system, delivering phenotypic MIC results in 2-4 hours for hospital microbiology laboratories managing sepsis and bloodstream infections.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersUppsala, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gradientech does
Gradientech AB is a Swedish in vitro diagnostics company headquartered in Uppsala that develops and commercializes the QuickMIC system, an ultra-rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) platform delivering precise Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values directly from positive blood cultures in 2 to 4 hours. The system uses proprietary gradient microfluidic technology with real-time live imaging to monitor bacterial growth, and consists of stackable instruments (up to 12 units), single-use Gram-negative AST panels, sample preparation kits, and analysis software. The company serves hospital clinical microbiology laboratories and infectious disease treatment centers managing sepsis and bloodstream infections, with end users including Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Wels-Grieskirchen Clinic, ULS Guarda, and Clinical Center University of Sarajevo.
Gradientech monetizes through a razor-and-blade model: capital equipment sales of QuickMIC instruments plus recurring per-test consumable (AST panel) revenue, with service and field application support layered on. Go-to-market is executed almost entirely through exclusive regional distribution partners covering Northern, Central, Southern, and Western Europe as well as the US and Canada, where Hardy Diagnostics serves as the strategic commercial partner for North America. The company also pursues direct enterprise agreements with flagship hospital accounts in select markets. Gradientech achieved IVDR certification (Class B) in October 2025 and submitted a 510(k) to the US FDA in November 2025, the latter currently in the hold-letter phase. Operating with 11-50 employees, the company reported FY2025 net sales of SEK 5.9 million against a net loss of SEK 72.3 million, funded by a series of rights issues and a strategic investment from Hardy Diagnostics.
Gradientech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gradientech
- Legal name
- Gradientech AB
- Website
- https://gradientech.se
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gradientech AB is a Swedish in vitro diagnostics company that develops the QuickMIC ultra-rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing system, delivering phenotypic MIC results in 2-4 hours for hospital microbiology laboratories managing sepsis and bloodstream infections.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gradientech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microbiology & Infectious Disease Diagnostics (Culture/ID/AST) (HLAHAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Microbiology & Sterility Assurance (Bioburden/Endotoxin/Sterility) (HLAGADAE)
Keywords
Where Gradientech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Uppsala
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gradientech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- QuickMIC Instrument Sales: Gradientech sells QuickMIC instruments to hospitals and clinical laboratories. The instruments can be purchased and placed in laboratories for routine use. The company reports that 16 European hospitals are now operating QuickMIC in routine use or advanced implementation, with expected annual test volumes typically in the several-hundred range and scaling beyond 1,000 tests per site.
- QuickMIC Consumables and Test Panels: The QuickMIC system uses single-use test panels (Gram-negative AST panels) that laboratories purchase on a per-test basis. The consumables include the microfluidic test components required for each analysis.
- Service and Support: Gradientech provides technical support and field application services through its support team and distributor network. The company maintains a dedicated service organization including a Service Manager, Field Application Specialist, and Service Engineer.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels5 records
Gradientech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gradientech develops and sells the QuickMIC ultra-rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) system for clinical microbiology laboratories. The system combines a stackable instrument with single-use Gram-negative microfluidic test panels and dedicated analysis software to deliver phenotypic MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) results directly from positive blood cultures in 2-4 hours, enabling same-shift targeted antibiotic therapy decisions for sepsis patients.
Product overview
Gradientech offers the QuickMIC system, an ultra-rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) platform. The core system consists of the QuickMIC instrument (which can be stacked up to 12 units), paired with single-use Gram-negative (GN) AST test panels and analysis software. The system delivers MIC results in 2-4 hours directly from positive blood cultures, dramatically faster than conventional methods that take 1-2 days. The platform was expanded in 2025 with the CU (Compact Unit) integrated screen product. The entire QuickMIC system is CE marked under IVDR and FDA Breakthrough Device designated.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- QuickMIC System Ultra-rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) instrument for hospital clinical microbiology laboratories. Delivers clinically actionable MIC values directly from positive blood cultures in 2-4 hours using proprietary gradient technology and real-time live imaging. CE marked under IVDR; FDA Breakthrough Device designated and available for Investigational Use Only in the US pending 510(k) clearance.
- QuickMIC Gram-Negative (GN) AST Panel Single-use consumable microfluidic test panel used with the QuickMIC instrument for Gram-negative AST. Laboratories purchase panels on a per-test basis. CE marked under IVDR as a Class B device.
Quantifiable outcome
- 75% reduction in turnaround time: QuickMIC delivers actionable results in 10-11.5 hours vs 22-45 hours for current methods
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Gradientech
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Gradientech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Gradientech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.
- ELBLAB GmbHstrategicLong-term agreement with ELBLAB GmbH in Germany for deployment of QuickMIC system in clinical workflows at their microbiology laboratory for critically ill patients including those with sepsis or severe pneumonia.
- ELTA 90 MGRcoreExclusive distribution agreement signed in February 2026 for commercialization of QuickMIC in Greece. ELTA 90 MGR is part of ELTA 90 Group and is a well-established distributor of advanced biomedical and clinical diagnostic solutions with high clinical microbiology expertise.
- CellectricstrategicCollaboration with Vienna-based Cellectric on a proof-of-concept study of a direct-from-blood application to accelerate sepsis diagnostic workflows. Cellectric is developing technology to selectively destroy human cells in patient samples to bypass the need for culturing bacteria, potentially combined with QuickMIC for faster diagnosis.
- Hardy DiagnosticscoreHardy Diagnostics serves as the exclusive distributor for QuickMIC in the United States and Canada. Hardy Diagnostics subscribed to 1,796,571 shares providing approximately SEK 31.4 million in funding to Gradientech. The partnership includes initial orders for QuickMIC systems for investigational use at US hospitals pending FDA 510(k) clearance.
- Biomedica Medizinprodukte GmbHcoreExclusive distributor for Austria, Switzerland, and Eastern Europe. Successfully installed QuickMIC at Wels-Grieskirchen Clinic in Austria and Clinical Center University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- a.d.a. SRLcoreExclusive distributor for Italy. Has won direct tenders at multiple Italian hospitals and started multicenter study in Milan area in collaboration with Italian Society for Clinical Microbiology (AMCLI). Several Italian hospitals have replaced Accelerate Pheno systems with QuickMIC.
- IberlabcoreExclusive distributor for Portugal. Won significant tender for QuickMIC at ULS Guarda hospital, marking first routine clinical installation in Portugal.
- Triolab GroupcoreExclusive distributor for Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania through Triolab AS, Triolab Oy, Triolab Baltic OÜ, and Triolab AB.
- AB ScientificcoreExclusive distributor for United Kingdom and Ireland with offices in London and Dublin.
- BSI (Notified Body)coreLeading Notified Body that granted IVDR certification for Gradientech's QuickMIC system, including the Class B GN AST panel, instrument, analysis software, and sample preparation kit.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Gradientech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Specific Diagnostics: Specific Diagnostics (now part of Specific Technologies/Bruker) developed the Reveal AST system for rapid phenotypic AST directly from positive blood cultures. Comparable as an emerging player offering a similar rapid AST workflow aimed at hospital microbiology labs.
- Selux Diagnostics: Selux Diagnostics is developing rapid AST technology targeting sepsis and antimicrobial resistance. Comparable as an emerging competitor in the rapid phenotypic AST space, though at an earlier commercial stage than Gradientech and targeting similar hospital microbiology customers.
- T2 Biosystems: T2 Biosystems develops rapid molecular diagnostics for sepsis and bloodstream infections, including the T2Bacteria and T2Candida panels. Comparable as an emerging player in rapid sepsis diagnostics; uses molecular rather than phenotypic methods, providing a partial-overlap alternative to Gradientech's AST approach.
Broad incumbents
- Beckman Coulter: Beckman Coulter manufactures the MicroScan WalkAway Plus AST system referenced in Gradientech's clinical validation studies. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering automated microbiology solutions to the same hospital laboratory customer base.
- Cepheid (Danaher): Cepheid, a Danaher company, produces the GeneXpert molecular diagnostics platform with sepsis and bloodstream infection panels. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering rapid molecular diagnostics to the same hospital microbiology customers, providing an alternative paradigm to Gradientech's phenotypic AST.
- bioMérieux: bioMérieux is a global leader in clinical microbiology with a broad portfolio including the VITEK 2 automated AST system. Comparable as a broad incumbent supplying microbiology laboratories with AST and ID solutions; not a direct rapid-AST competitor but its scale and installed base define the market Gradientech is displacing.
- Becton Dickinson (BD): BD produces the BD Phoenix M50 automated AST system, a long-standing gold standard cited in Gradientech's multicenter comparison studies. As a broad incumbent in clinical microbiology, BD represents both a competitive threat and a potential strategic acquirer of rapid AST innovation.
Direct peers
- Q-linea: Q-linea is a Swedish diagnostics company developing the ASTar system for rapid AST directly from positive blood cultures. Headquartered in Uppsala like Gradientech, it is one of the closest direct competitors targeting the same hospital microbiology laboratory customers with similar rapid phenotypic AST technology.
- Accelerate Diagnostics: Accelerate Diagnostics develops the Accelerate Pheno system, a rapid phenotypic AST platform delivering results in approximately 7 hours from positive blood cultures. Direct competitor to QuickMIC in the rapid sepsis AST category; Italian hospitals have already replaced Accelerate Pheno with QuickMIC, underscoring the head-to-head competition.
Others
- Hardy Diagnostics: Hardy Diagnostics is Gradientech's exclusive US/Canada distributor for QuickMIC and also a shareholder via SEK 31.4M share subscription. While not a direct product competitor, it is a key channel partner and ecosystem enabler for the North American commercialization strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gradientech social profiles
Digital presenceGradientech compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Gradientech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gradientech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Gradientech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gradientech M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gradientech
What does Gradientech do?
Gradientech develops and sells the QuickMIC ultra-rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) system for clinical microbiology laboratories. The system combines a stackable instrument with single-use Gram-negative microfluidic test panels and dedicated analysis software to deliver phenotypic MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) results directly from positive blood cultures in 2-4 hours, enabling same-shift targeted antibiotic therapy decisions for sepsis patients.
Is Gradientech a public or private company?
Gradientech is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Gradientech founded?
Gradientech was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gradientech based?
Gradientech is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Gradientech make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. QuickMIC Instrument Sales are the primary driver. The others are quickMIC Consumables and Test Panels and service and Support.
Who are Gradientech's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Specific Diagnostics, Selux Diagnostics and T2 Biosystems. Broad incumbents are Beckman Coulter, Cepheid (Danaher), bioMérieux and Becton Dickinson (BD). Direct peers are Q-linea and Accelerate Diagnostics. Hardy Diagnostics is listed as an others.
Does Gradientech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gradientech.
What industry is Gradientech in?
Gradientech's product category is Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAAAC, Microbiology & Infectious Disease Diagnostics (Culture/ID/AST), with a secondary code of HLAGADAE, Microbiology & Sterility Assurance (Bioburden/Endotoxin/Sterility). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 2835.