Berlinger Special AG
Berlinger Special AG is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of tamper-evident doping-control sample containers (BEREG-Kit family), blood sample accessories, and Q-tag temperature monitors, serving National Anti-Doping Organisations, international sports federations, and major events including the Olympic Games across 120+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersGanterschwil, Schweiz, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Berlinger Special AG does
Berlinger Special AG is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of tamper-evident safety containers and accessories used to collect, transport, and store doping-control samples in human and animal sports. Founded as part of the Berlinger family business (group founded 1865) and operating from Ganterschwil in Canton St. Gallen, the company entered anti-doping in 1994 with the launch of the BEREG-Kit 94 and was incorporated as Berlinger Special AG in 1999. Its product portfolio centres on the BEREG-Kit family — urine containers now available in both glass and plastic, the BEREG-Kit small blood container, and the BEREG-Horse-Kit — supplemented by urine collection vessels, transport and laboratory accessories, and the Q-tag CLm doc temperature monitors that calculate the WADA-defined Blood Stability Score (BSS = 3T + CAT). The company also distributes FirstFlagX, an InsituGen-developed screening assay for anabolic drugs, under a multi-year global distribution partnership.
The business serves National Anti-Doping Organisations, international sports federations, and organisers of the Olympic Games, major soccer tournaments, and international athletics championships, with products deployed in over 120 countries and more than 8 million kits produced cumulatively since 1994. Customers in regulated WADA jurisdictions typically procure on a quote-based, direct-sales basis, with certification provided through ISO 17025-accredited external laboratories and a seven-digit chain-of-custody numbering system embedded across kit components. In June 2024, the parent group divested its cold chain monitoring business (Berlinger & Co. AG) to Sensitech Inc., leaving Berlinger Special AG operating independently under family ownership with a refreshed leadership team and an expanded focus on the animal-sports anti-doping vertical via the FirstFlagX distribution agreement and the Equine Pre-Purchase Kit.
Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of anti-doping equipment and a secondary licensing/royalty stream from the FirstFlagX distribution agreement. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and no financial metrics are reported given the company's private family-owned status. Commercial reach is amplified by ecosystem partnerships: the company is an Official Partner of the International Testing Agency's Doping Control Officer training programme (since 2020), collaborates with Becton Dickinson on blood-collection needles, and partners with iNADO, vet-webinar, and South Pole on training, education, and carbon-neutral positioning of its products.
Berlinger Special AG firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Berlinger Special AG
- Legal name
- Berlinger Special AG
- Website
- https://berlinger.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Berlinger Special AG is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of tamper-evident doping-control sample containers (BEREG-Kit family), blood sample accessories, and Q-tag temperature monitors, serving National Anti-Doping Organisations, international sports federations, and major events including the Olympic Games across 120+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Berlinger Special AG industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Anti-Doping Testing Equipment
- NAICS
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Diagnostic & Laboratory Packaging (Specimen Containers, Transport Tubes) (IMALAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sample Logistics, Biorepository & IVD Kit Management (Trial Support) (HLAGAEAI)
Keywords
Where Berlinger Special AG is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ganterschwil, Schweiz
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Berlinger Special AG business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Anti-Doping Equipment Sales: Manufacture and distribution of tamper-evident sample containers (BEREG-Kit family) and accessories for anti-doping testing in sports. Includes urine and blood sample containers, transport accessories, and laboratory accessories.
- Global Distribution Agreement: Multi-year partnership with InsituGen Ltd to distribute FirstFlagX drug testing technology to Berlinger's global customer base.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Berlinger Special AG product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Berlinger Special AG manufactures and distributes tamper-evident sample containers and kits for the secure collection, transport, and storage of urine and blood samples in compliance with WADA anti-doping standards. Its core products include the BEREG-Kit family (urine and blood sample containers in glass and plastic variants), animal sports kits (BEREG-Horse-Kit, Lausanne Kit, Equine Pre-Purchase Kit), Urine Collection Vessels, transport and laboratory accessories, and the Q-tag temperature monitoring devices that calculate Blood Stability Score (BSS). The company also globally distributes the firstflagX drug screening assay from InsituGen.
Product overview
Berlinger Special AG is a global market leader in doping control equipment, specializing in the development, production, and distribution of cutting-edge solutions for secure transport and reliable storage of urine and blood samples in compliance with standardized doping controls in sports. The company operates two main business segments: anti-doping products (Berlinger Special AG) and temperature monitoring systems (Berlinger & Co. AG). The core product portfolio includes the BEREG-Kit family (urine and blood sample containers), available in glass and plastic variants, alongside specialized animal sports testing kits (BEREG-Horse-Kit, Berlinger Lausanne Kit, Equine Pre-Purchase Kit), the firstflagX drug detection technology from InsituGen partnership, and supporting transport and laboratory accessories. The company has served the anti-doping community since 1994, with products used at major international sporting events including Olympic Games, major soccer tournaments, and international athletics championships. Berlinger Special AG operates as part of the Berlinger Group (founded 1865), with manufacturing based in Switzerland (Ganterschwil, Canton St. Gallen), serving customers in over 140 countries worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BEREG-Kit: Tamper-evident urine sample container, the most globally used safety container for anti-doping. Available in Glass and Plastic versions since 2023.
- BEREG-Kit small
- BEREG-Horse-Kit
- Berlinger Urine Collection Vessel
- Berlinger Lausanne Kit
- Equine Pre-Purchase Kit
- firstflagX
Products and services
- BEREG-Kit Tamper-evident urine sample container for secure transport and storage of urine samples between collection point and laboratory. Available in both glass and plastic variants since 2023. All components provided with the same individual 7-digit number for chain of custody. Sold to National Anti-Doping Organizations and international sports federations for WADA-compliant doping control.
- BEREG-Kit small First plastic blood sample container with minimal weight and size for safe transport and storage of blood vacutainers in doping control. Designed for the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) blood sampling workflow.
- BEREG-Horse-Kit Blood sample container kit specially designed for use in animal sports, particularly horses. Features plastic bottle with transparent design for enhanced visibility and thermoplastic lock ring with 50% fiber composition. Used by veterinarians and equine sports testing programs.
- Berlinger Urine Collection Vessel Container for convenient urine collection during doping control procedures. Features stackable design, precision-designed spout for controlled pouring, and watertight leak-proof construction.
- Berlinger Lausanne Kit Urine collection kit designed for animal sports testing applications.
- Equine Pre-Purchase Kit All-in-one kit providing tamper-evident safety containers for blood or urine samples during equine pre-purchase examinations, targeting equine veterinarians and pre-purchase testing professionals.
- firstflagX Screening assay for detection of anabolic drugs in biological samples from racehorses and in supplements. Detects newly designed prohibited performance-enhancing drugs based on activity rather than structure. Distributed globally by Berlinger under partnership with InsituGen Ltd.
- Transport accessories Tamper-evident transport bags and accessories for secure transport of doping control samples.
- Laboratory accessories Opening tools and laboratory accessories for doping control sample handling at WADA-accredited laboratories.
- Q-tag CLm doc L Single-use temperature monitoring device for measuring Blood Stability Score (BSS) according to WADA ISTI guidelines. Calculates the relationship between sample temperature during transport and duration between collection and analysis (BSS = 3*T + CAT).
- Q-tag CLm doc LR Reusable temperature monitoring device for measuring Blood Stability Score (BSS) according to WADA ISTI guidelines. Can be used multiple times with 365-day battery runtime.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 8 million BEREG-Kits successfully used worldwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Berlinger Special AG
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Berlinger Special AG technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Berlinger Special AG partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- InsituGen LtdcoreMulti-year strategic partnership including global distribution agreement for InsituGen's FirstFlagX drug testing technology. FirstFlagX is an innovative assay for detection of anabolic drugs in biological samples from racehorses and in supplements. Berlinger leverages its global distribution network to supply this technology to customers worldwide. Initial focus on equine and camel racing industries.
- International Testing Agency (ITA)coreBerlinger is the Official Partner of the ITA DCO Foundation Training Program and IDCO Training Program. The partnership supports free training and certification for Doping Control Officers globally, helping establish professional benchmarks for anti-doping sample collection. Berlinger has been an ITA Official Partner since 2020, expanding to support the entire DCO training journey from beginner through advanced level.
- South PoleminorClimate action partnership for Berlinger's SmartMonitor temperature monitoring products. Berlinger supports the Rimba Raya forest conservation project in Borneo, Indonesia, aligning with corporate values and providing quantifiable, traceable climate impact. Makes SmartMonitor the first carbon neutral temperature monitoring solution in the industry.
- vet-webinarminorEducational webinar partnership for equine anti-doping topics. Berlinger sponsors webinars on anti-doping during equine pre-purchase exams, featuring expert speakers like Emmanuelle van Erck to educate veterinarians and professionals in the equine industry.
- Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations (iNADO)minorPartnership for educational webinars and training sessions. iNADO hosts Berlinger webinars on topics including blood collection innovation and European MDR regulations, reaching anti-doping professionals globally.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Berlinger Special AG competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD): Global medical device giant supplying blood collection needles, vacutainer systems, and laboratory consumables. Already a Berlinger partner on blood-collection innovation but competes broadly in the same sample-collection workflow.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Largest life-sciences tools company, manufacturing specimen containers, transport media, and laboratory consumables across clinical, forensic, and sports testing applications. A broad incumbent that competes with Berlinger in many of the same end markets.
Direct peers
- Greiner Bio-One International GmbH: Austrian/European manufacturer of vacutainer blood collection tubes, urine containers, and pre-analytical sample transport systems. Closest direct competitor in specimen container and chain-of-custody products serving medical and laboratory customers.
- Sarstedt AG & Co. KG: German manufacturer of specimen collection containers, blood collection systems, and laboratory consumables. Directly comparable to Berlinger's tamper-evident urine and blood container business for clinical and laboratory sample collection.
- COPAN Diagnostics Inc. Manufacturer of sample collection and transport devices (eSwab, FLOQSwab, UriSette) used in clinical diagnostics and laboratory testing. Comparable in tamper-evident and chain-of-custody sample transport for regulated testing environments.
- Sensitech Inc. (Cold Chain Technologies): Acquired Berlinger's former cold chain monitoring business in June 2024. Direct comparable in temperature monitoring devices (e.g., TempTale) for pharmaceutical and life-sciences cold-chain logistics.
Regional players
- ELPRO-BUCHS AG: Swiss manufacturer of temperature monitoring devices and data loggers for pharmaceutical/life-sciences cold chain. Comparable to Berlinger's legacy Q-tag CLm temperature monitoring product line in similar Swiss-based regulated logistics use cases.
Emerging players
- QIAGEN N.V. Provides sample collection kits (e.g., QIAamp, FTA cards) and pre-analytical consumables for molecular diagnostics and forensic/doping testing. Comparable niche in regulated sample collection consumables.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Berlinger Special AG social profiles
Digital presenceBerlinger Special AG financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Berlinger Special AG leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Berlinger Special AG funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Berlinger Special AG 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 Berlinger Special AG
What does Berlinger Special AG do?
Berlinger Special AG manufactures and distributes tamper-evident sample containers and kits for the secure collection, transport, and storage of urine and blood samples in compliance with WADA anti-doping standards. Its core products include the BEREG-Kit family (urine and blood sample containers in glass and plastic variants), animal sports kits (BEREG-Horse-Kit, Lausanne Kit, Equine Pre-Purchase Kit), Urine Collection Vessels, transport and laboratory accessories, and the Q-tag temperature monitoring devices that calculate Blood Stability Score (BSS). The company also globally distributes the firstflagX drug screening assay from InsituGen.
Is Berlinger Special AG a public or private company?
Berlinger Special AG is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Berlinger Special AG founded?
Berlinger Special AG was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Berlinger Special AG based?
Berlinger Special AG is headquartered in Ganterschwil, Schweiz, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Berlinger Special AG make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Anti-Doping Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are global Distribution Agreement.
Who are Berlinger Special AG's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.. Direct peers are Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, Sarstedt AG & Co. KG, COPAN Diagnostics Inc. and Sensitech Inc. (Cold Chain Technologies). ELPRO-BUCHS AG is listed as a regional player. QIAGEN N.V. is listed as an emerging player.
Does Berlinger Special AG have an API?
No public API is recorded for Berlinger Special AG.
What industry is Berlinger Special AG in?
Berlinger Special AG's product category is Anti-Doping Testing Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAIAF, Diagnostic & Laboratory Packaging (Specimen Containers, Transport Tubes), with a secondary code of HLAGAEAI, Sample Logistics, Biorepository & IVD Kit Management (Trial Support). Its NAICS code is 3391 and its SIC code is 3841.