BioFire Defense
BioFire Defense, a Salt Lake City-based subsidiary of bioMérieux, develops multiplex PCR-based molecular diagnostic systems (SPOTFIRE, FILMARRAY TORCH, RAZOR Mk II) and proprietary test panels for syndromic infectious disease testing and biothreat detection, serving U.S. government, military, public health, and first responder markets globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What BioFire Defense does
BioFire Defense, LLC is a privately held molecular diagnostics company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the French in vitro diagnostics major bioMérieux. Founded in 2001, the company designs, manufactures, and sells PCR-based diagnostic instruments and proprietary test panels focused on two tightly related markets: syndromic infectious disease testing in clinical and public health laboratories, and field-deployable biothreat detection for military, first responder, and biosurveillance customers.
Its product architecture centers on three instrument platforms: the BIOFIRE SPOTFIRE point-of-care PCR device (results in approximately 45 minutes), the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY TORCH high-throughput laboratory system, and the battery-powered RAZOR Mk II portable PCR system, which detects up to 10 biothreat agents in roughly 30 minutes. These instruments run a menu of single-use, freeze-dried reagent pouches covering respiratory, gastrointestinal, biothreat, global fever, meningitis/encephalitis, blood culture identification, pneumonia, and tropical disease panels. The company's revenue model combines upfront instrument sales with high-margin recurring consumables and software module sales (pouch modules and Electronic Report Modules for LIS integration), supplemented by BIOFIRE SHIELD external quality control kits.
BioFire Defense goes to market through three channels: direct enterprise sales (phone-based and via the military E-CAT procurement system) for U.S. government and defense customers, a global distributor network for international markets, and a B2B e-commerce storefront. Its customer base is concentrated in government, military, public health laboratories, and CBRN/biosurveillance end users, with regulatory moats including FDA Emergency Use Authorizations and compliance with FAR/DFAR and FAR-HHSAR clauses that position the company for BARDA and Department of Defense contract work. The business is protected by a portfolio of at least nine registered patents and several registered trademarks spanning instruments, panels, control kits, and chemistry.
BioFire Defense firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BioFire Defense
- Legal name
- BioFire Defense, LLC
- Website
- https://biofiredefense.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- BioFire Defense, a Salt Lake City-based subsidiary of bioMérieux, develops multiplex PCR-based molecular diagnostic systems (SPOTFIRE, FILMARRAY TORCH, RAZOR Mk II) and proprietary test panels for syndromic infectious disease testing and biothreat detection, serving U.S. government, military, public health, and first responder markets globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BioFire Defense industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Molecular Diagnostics / In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD)
- 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/qPCR, NGS-based assays) (HLAAALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Multiplex & High-Throughput Diagnostics Platforms (microarrays, digital PCR, lab automation-enabled assays) (HLAAALAL), Microbiology & Infectious Disease Diagnostics (culture, rapid antigen, syndromic panels) (HLAAALAC), Biothreat/Biocontainment & Select Agent Public Health Laboratories (HLAJAIAL)
Keywords
Where BioFire Defense is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
BioFire Defense business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Molecular Diagnostic Systems: Sale of diagnostic instrument systems including BIOFIRE SPOTFIRE, FILMARRAY TORCH, and RAZOR Mk II PCR platforms. These systems serve as the hardware foundation for running proprietary test panels.
- Diagnostic Test Panels: Sale of proprietary test panels and reagent kits including gastrointestinal, respiratory, biothreat, and tropical disease panels. These single-use consumables provide recurring revenue as tests are performed.
- COVID-19 and Specialized Tests: Specialized diagnostic tests such as BioFire COVID-19 Test (EUA authorized) for SARS-CoV-2 detection, sold in packs of 6 or 30 tests.
- Quality Control Products: External quality control materials including BIOFIRE SHIELD Control Kits designed for use with BioFire and SPOTFIRE systems, ensuring consistent performance and meeting accreditation requirements.
- Software Modules: Pouch modules and Electronic Report Modules (ERM) software downloads for BioFire systems, enabling specific test functionality and LIS integration.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
BioFire Defense product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BioFire Defense designs, manufactures, and sells PCR-based molecular diagnostic instruments and proprietary test panels for syndromic infectious disease detection and biothreat identification. Its portfolio spans three core instrument platforms — the BIOFIRE SPOTFIRE point-of-care PCR, the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY TORCH high-throughput system, and the RAZOR Mk II portable field-deployable PCR — supported by single-use test panels (respiratory, gastrointestinal, biothreat, Global Fever, BioThreat-E), reagent kits, and BIOFIRE SHIELD external quality controls.
Product overview
BioFire Defense offers a portfolio of syndromic molecular diagnostic systems and biothreat detection solutions. The product ecosystem centers on three core instrument platforms: the BIOFIRE SPOTFIRE (point-of-care PCR), BIOFIRE FILMARRAY TORCH (high-throughput molecular diagnostic), and RAZOR Mk II (portable field-deployable PCR). These systems run compatible test panels including Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, BioThreat, Global Fever, Meningitis/Encephalitis, Blood Culture Identification, Pneumonia, and Tropical Fever panels. Quality control is maintained through BIOFIRE SHIELD Control Kits. Software modules (pouch modules and ERM) enable instrument operation and LIS data transfer. The company operates under bioMérieux ownership and serves Clinical-IVD, High Consequence-IVD, CBRN, and External Quality Control market segments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BIOFIRE SPOTFIRE
Quantifiable outcome
- Results in approximately 45 minutes for BioFire SPOTFIRE COVID-19 Test
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use BioFire Defense
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BioFire Defense technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature7 records
BioFire Defense partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- bioMérieuxcoreBioFire Defense is a subsidiary backed by bioMérieux, a major global in vitro diagnostics company. The company references the bioMérieux Global Code of Conduct Manual and Corruption Prevention Manual in their business terms. The parent company provides institutional backing, global reach, and access to the broader bioMérieux diagnostic ecosystem.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BioFire Defense competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- 908 Devices: 908 Devices provides handheld mass spectrometry and CBRN/biothreat detection tools used by military and first responders, overlapping with BioFire Defense's RAZOR Mk II CBRN mission.
- T2 Biosystems: T2 Biosystems develops rapid molecular diagnostics for sepsis and other bloodstream infections, representing an emerging player with adjacent molecular diagnostic capability to BioFire Defense's portfolio.
Direct peers
- Cepheid: Cepheid (a Danaher company) is the leading molecular diagnostics PCR platform with the GeneXpert system, directly comparable to BioFire Defense's FilmArray TORCH and SPOTFIRE for syndromic infectious disease testing in clinical and decentralized settings.
- BioFire Diagnostics (bioMérieux): BioFire Diagnostics is the sister company within bioMérieux that commercializes the FilmArray platform in clinical markets; it shares core technology lineage with BioFire Defense and operates an overlapping multiplex PCR syndromic testing menu.
- Hologic: Hologic's Panther Fusion and Panther systems are molecular diagnostic PCR platforms competing in syndromic infectious disease testing with menus overlapping BioFire Defense's respiratory, GI, and biothreat panels.
- QIAGEN: QIAGEN's QIAstat-Dx is a direct molecular PCR syndromic testing competitor to BioFire Defense's FilmArray/SPOTFIRE, with comparable sample-to-answer syndromic panels for respiratory and GI infections.
- Becton Dickinson (BD): BD's BD MAX system and associated molecular panels compete with BioFire Defense in syndromic infectious disease testing, particularly for enteric and respiratory pathogens in clinical labs.
- QuidelOrtho: QuidelOrtho's Sofia and Savanna platforms offer rapid molecular and immunoassay diagnostics, providing overlapping point-of-care infectious disease testing comparable to BioFire Defense's SPOTFIRE.
Broad incumbents
- Abbott Molecular: Abbott operates the m2000 and ID NOW molecular diagnostic platforms, serving as a broad incumbent in PCR-based infectious disease testing with much larger global scale than BioFire Defense.
- Roche Diagnostics: Roche's cobas Liat is a rapid point-of-care PCR system directly comparable to BioFire Defense's SPOTFIRE for fast infectious disease detection in decentralized clinical settings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BioFire Defense social profiles
Digital presenceBioFire Defense compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
BioFire Defense financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BioFire Defense leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
BioFire Defense funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BioFire Defense 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 BioFire Defense
What does BioFire Defense do?
BioFire Defense designs, manufactures, and sells PCR-based molecular diagnostic instruments and proprietary test panels for syndromic infectious disease detection and biothreat identification. Its portfolio spans three core instrument platforms — the BIOFIRE SPOTFIRE point-of-care PCR, the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY TORCH high-throughput system, and the RAZOR Mk II portable field-deployable PCR — supported by single-use test panels (respiratory, gastrointestinal, biothreat, Global Fever, BioThreat-E), reagent kits, and BIOFIRE SHIELD external quality controls.
Is BioFire Defense a public or private company?
BioFire Defense is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was BioFire Defense founded?
BioFire Defense was founded in 2001. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is BioFire Defense based?
BioFire Defense is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does BioFire Defense make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Molecular Diagnostic Systems are the primary driver. The others are diagnostic Test Panels, COVID-19 and Specialized Tests, quality Control Products and software Modules.
Who are BioFire Defense's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are 908 Devices and T2 Biosystems. Direct peers are Cepheid, BioFire Diagnostics (bioMérieux), Hologic, QIAGEN, Becton Dickinson (BD) and QuidelOrtho. Broad incumbents are Abbott Molecular and Roche Diagnostics.
Does BioFire Defense have an API?
No public API is recorded for BioFire Defense.
What industry is BioFire Defense in?
BioFire Defense's product category is Molecular Diagnostics / In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAALAA, Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/qPCR, NGS-based assays), with a secondary code of HLAAALAL, Multiplex & High-Throughput Diagnostics Platforms (microarrays, digital PCR, lab automation-enabled assays). Its NAICS code is 325413 and its SIC code is 2835.