Primer Design

What Primer Design does

Primer Design Limited is a UK-based molecular diagnostics company founded in 2004 and headquartered in Manchester, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Novacyt Group. The company designs, validates, and manufactures real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays and reagents for pathogen and genetic target detection, with a catalog of more than 1,200 molecular assays across bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, food speciation, and antibiotic resistance targets. Core branded product lines include the genesig qPCR assay family (offered in Easy, Standard, Advanced, and Complete formats), Precision FAST and Precision PLUS master mixes, oasig lyophilised master mixes, genesigPLEX multiplex assays, SNPsig genotyping kits, and AnimalFINDER speciation kits; the company also sells extraction kits, magnetic racks, qPCR plates, pipettes, and instrumentation, and offers OEM and custom assay development services.

The company serves three primary verticals — Human Healthcare (diagnostic labs, genetic testing hubs, outbreak surveillance), Animal & Veterinary (livestock screening, companion animal testing, equine health), and Food, Water & Agriculture (food safety, aquaculture, environmental monitoring) — supplying more than 1,000 customers in over 100 countries. Distribution is primarily direct via a multi-region e-commerce platform (GB, EU, and US stores) supported by an international courier shipping operation and a local distributor network in non-direct territories. Manufacturing is conducted under ISO 13485:2012 and ISO 9001:2008 certified quality management systems, supporting the diagnostic-grade positioning of the reagent portfolio. Revenue is generated predominantly through one-time consumable sales (assays, master mixes, extraction kits) and OEM/custom assay development services, with headcount stated in the 11-50 employee range.

Name

Primer Design

Legal name

Primer Design Limited

Website

https://primerdesign.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Primer Design Limited is a UK-based molecular diagnostics company (subsidiary of Novacyt Group) that designs, validates, and manufactures over 1,200 real-time qPCR assays and reagents for pathogen detection, serving 1,000+ customers across human healthcare, animal health, and food/water testing in 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Molecular Diagnostics

NAICS

In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/NAAT/NGS-based IVD) (HLAHAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/qPCR, NGS-based assays) (HLAAALAA), Multiplex & High-Throughput Diagnostics Platforms (microarrays, digital PCR, lab automation-enabled assays) (HLAAALAL), Rapid On-Site Environmental Testing Kits & Instruments (Lateral Flow, PCR, ATP Devices) (AFALAEAK), Molecular Biology & Genomics Instruments (PCR/qPCR, Sequencing, Microarrays) (HLAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Real-time PCR assays
• Molecular diagnostics
• QPCR reagents
• Pathogen detection kits
• PCR master mixes

Headquarters

HQ city

Chandlers Ford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. qPCR Assay Products: Sale of real-time PCR detection kits and assays for pathogen detection across human healthcare, animal & veterinary, and food/water/agriculture sectors. Products sold in multiple formats (Easy, Standard, Advanced, Complete) at varying price points.
2. Mastermix Reagents: Sale of PCR master mixes including PrecisionFAST, PrecisionPLUS, oasig, and oasigPLUS products in various volumes and configurations for use in customer laboratories.
3. OEM Solutions and Custom Assay Development: Custom assay development services and OEM-ready, end-to-end qPCR kits for partners requiring tailored molecular diagnostic solutions.
4. Instrumentation: Sale of qPCR instrumentation and related equipment for molecular diagnostic workflows.
5. Extraction and Reagent Consumables: Sale of extraction kits, reagents, and consumables including the genesig Easy DNA/RNA Extraction Kit, carrier RNA, elution buffers, and other laboratory supplies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Primer Design designs, develops and manufactures real-time PCR (qPCR) molecular diagnostic assays under the genesig brand, supplied as ready-to-deploy kits in Easy, Standard, Advanced, and Complete formats for pathogen detection across human healthcare, animal/veterinary, and food/water/agriculture sectors. The portfolio is complemented by proprietary Precision and oasig master mix reagents, the genesig Easy DNA/RNA extraction kit, qPCR instrumentation, and an OEM/custom assay development service for partners requiring tailored molecular diagnostic solutions.

Product overview

Primer Design is a molecular diagnostics company specializing in real-time qPCR (quantitative PCR) assays and reagents. The product portfolio centers on the genesig qPCR assay brand (offered in Easy, Standard, Advanced, and Complete formats) for pathogen detection across human healthcare, animal & veterinary, and food/water/agriculture sectors. Complementary products include Precision Master Mix lines (Precision FAST, Precision PLUS, Precision PLUS OneStep RT-qPCR) for PCR amplification, oasig lyophilised master mix products for extended stability, and the genesig Easy DNA/RNA extraction kit as part of integrated sample-to-result workflows. The company also offers custom assay development (OEM) services, instrumentation, and a range of reagents and consumables including qPCR plates, pipettes, and magnetic racks. With over 1,200 molecular assays designed, the portfolio covers bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, food speciation, and antibiotic resistance targets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• genesig: Real-time PCR detection kits for pathogen detection
• genesigPLEX
• Precision
• Precision FAST
• Precision PLUS
• oasig
• oasig PLUS
• SNPsig

Products and services

• genesig qPCR Assays Real-time qPCR detection and quantification kits for pathogens and genetic targets in human healthcare, animal health, and food/water/agriculture applications, sold as complete kits priced $461.00–$907.00 depending on pathogen and format.
• Precision Master Mix Products qPCR and one-step RT-qPCR master mix reagents formulated for high-performance amplification and compatible with standard laboratory qPCR instruments, used by customer laboratories in molecular detection workflows.
• oasig Lyophilised Master Mix Freeze-dried qPCR and OneStep RT-qPCR master mix products offering room-temperature stability and convenient shipping, sold in 150-reaction pack sizes.
• genesig Easy DNA/RNA Extraction Kit Extraction and purification kit for DNA and RNA from various samples, used as the front end of the integrated genesig sample-to-result workflow.
• BrightWhite qPCR Plates Real-time PCR plates optimised for qPCR workflows, sold as standalone consumables for use with standard qPCR instruments.
• genesig Easy Magnetic Rack Magnetic rack used for separation steps within the genesig Easy extraction workflow, available as a standalone laboratory accessory.
• genesig Lab in a Box Bundled laboratory setup kit containing essential equipment required to perform qPCR testing workflows.
• genesig Pipettes Liquid-handling precision pipettes sold as standalone accessories for qPCR preparation workflows.
• Custom Assay Development (OEM Solutions) Tailored molecular assay design and OEM manufacturing service for partners requiring custom qPCR assays or white-label, end-to-end qPCR kits integrated into their own products.
• qPCR Instrumentation qPCR instruments and related equipment sold to laboratories for use in molecular diagnostic workflows based on Primer Design reagents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90-minute qPCR results for rapid decision-making
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Novacyt GroupcoreOthersPrimer Design is a subsidiary/brand of Novacyt Group, an international diagnostics group. Novacyt provides the corporate infrastructure and parent company resources supporting Primer Design's molecular diagnostics operations. The company leverages Novacyt's group capabilities while operating under the Primer Design brand for qPCR products. Careers information is available through Novacyt's careers portal at careers.novacyt.com.
• Local DistributorsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimer Design works with local distributors in various territories to serve customers outside their direct sales coverage. Distributors are listed on the distributor page of the website and provide local sales and support in territories where Primer Design does not sell directly.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Major manufacturer of qPCR reagents (e.g., iQ multiplex Powermix, SsoAdvanced) and CFX real-time PCR instruments; competes directly with Primer Design on catalog qPCR kits, mastermixes and lyophilised/reagent chemistry used across human and veterinary diagnostic labs.
• Qiagen: Global molecular diagnostics and life-science reagents company offering QuantiNova and QuantiTect qPCR enzyme/kit lines and OEM/white-label services; directly comparable as a broad-menu qPCR kit and OEM reagent manufacturer serving human and applied-testing markets.
• Promega: Manufacturer of GoTaq qPCR mastermixes and custom OEM molecular diagnostic solutions; comparable as a reagent/OEM-focused qPCR supplier with deep custom development capabilities analogous to Primer Design's OEM Solutions business.
• LGC Biosearch Technologies: Supplies qPCR probes, BHQ quenchers and lyophilised reagent custom development services for OEM molecular diagnostics customers; closely comparable on probe/assay design IP and OEM model with Primer Design.
• Meridian Bioscience: Develops and commercializes molecular diagnostic kits (formerly including BioGX and Life Science assays) and OEM reagents for infectious disease; directly comparable on catalog molecular kits and OEM partner model for Primer Design.

Emerging players

• Stilla Technologies: Specialized digital PCR (Naica) consumables and assays — adjacent to Primer Design's qPCR franchise but using a competing technology platform (dPCR) that could erode share in selected high-sensitivity diagnostic use cases over time.

Broad incumbents

• Roche Diagnostics: Operates LightCycler qPCR reagents and the cobas Liat closed-system molecular platform; broader molecular diagnostics portfolio, but its qPCR reagent content is directly comparable to Primer Design's genesig catalog.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Applied Biosystems / Thermo Fisher Microbiology): Operates Applied Biosystems TaqMan qPCR reagent lines, MicroSEQ pathogen detection kits and instrumentation; competes with Primer Design across the entire qPCR workflow with deeper integration across instruments, software and global distribution.
• Bio-Techne (including ExoDx / R&D Systems / Biosoph): Supplies molecular biology enzymes, qPCR reagents and lyophilised chemistry consumables comparable to Primer Design's Precision and oasig lines; competes in research and applied-testing qPCR reagent markets.
• Eurofins Genomics: Largest custom oligo and qPCR assay/kit manufacturer globally, also offering in-silico assay design services; relevant scale peer for catalog breadth and custom assay development comparable to Primer Design's 1,200+ assay library.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/primerdesign
• Xx.com/primerdesignltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/realtimepcr

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Primer Design