BioFire Defense
Salt Lake City, UT, United StatesFounded 1990Industry
BioFire Defense makes PCR-based field and laboratory identification systems for biological threats. CBRNE-relevant work is a primary business line according to its website.
What it does
Threats covered
Profile
BioFire Defense supplies PCR-based systems and test panels for detecting biological threats and infectious diseases, mainly to US government, military and public-health customers. It is a wholly owned affiliate of the French diagnostics group bioMérieux, and describes itself as an independent contract research, development and manufacturing organisation with its own board of directors.
More profile
Its roots are in Idaho Technology, Inc., established in 1990, which became BioFire Diagnostics in 2012. bioMérieux completed its purchase of BioFire on 16 January 2014 and said the biodefense work would move to a separate subsidiary on a protected site in Salt Lake City, where BioFire Defense is based.
Its field products include the RAZOR Mk II, a portable PCR system the company says returns results in about 30 minutes, and the SPOTFIRE system, whose BioThreat Panel identifies 16 biothreat agents from one environmental sample in about an hour. In March 2014 the company announced that the US Department of Defense had awarded it the Next Generation Diagnostic System technology development contract, an eight-year programme worth $240 million managed by the Joint Program Executive Office for Medical Countermeasure Systems.
On 1 May 2025 the US Naval Medical Research Command posted a notice of its intent to buy BioFire respiratory, fever and biothreat panels from the company without full competition, for a base year with two option years.
Ownership
Wholly owned by bioMérieux (Euronext Paris: BIM)
Parent: bioMérieux (checked)
Sources (7)
- https://biofiredefense.com/about/
- https://biofiredefense.com/cbrn/
- https://biofiredefense.com/biofire-spotfire-system-for-cbrn/
- https://www.biomerieux.com/us/en/journalists/press-releases/biomerieux-finalizes-acquisition-us-company-biofire-specialized-molecular-biology.html
- https://www.prweb.com/releases/biofire_defense_ngds_contract_award/prweb11685633.htm
- https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=56820265&itype=CMSID
- https://www.highergov.com/contract-opportunity/biofire-global-fever-special-pathogens-panel-warr-n3239825q5304-s-d3b36/
Not verified or not found
- Founding year: the company's 2014 release and a 2013 newspaper report say 1990 or 1991 depending on source; the University of Utah says 1991. 1990 is used here with that caveat.
- Whether the May 2025 Naval Medical Research Command notice led to an award: not confirmed.
- Date the 'independent CRDMO' structure was adopted: not stated on the company page.
- Regulatory status of the SPOTFIRE BioThreat Panel: not established; the company labels related material as research or environmental use.
Questions
What does BioFire Defense do?
BioFire Defense makes PCR-based field and laboratory identification systems for biological threats. CBRNE-relevant work is a primary business line according to its website.
Where is BioFire Defense based?
HQ (as found): Salt Lake City, UT. HQ country: US.
Who owns BioFire Defense?
Wholly owned by bioMérieux (Euronext Paris: BIM). Parent: bioMérieux (checked)
Profiles are compiled from public sources and sampled-checked, not fully audited. Last verified 17 October 2026. Report a correction