Stock Alert: OPKO's BioReference Labs Offers Testing For COVID-19; Stock Up 45%

(RTTNews) - Shares of OPKO Health Inc. (OPK) are soaring over 45% in pre-market today, after the company announced that its BioReference Laboratories is now accepting specimens for testing of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from healthcare providers, clinics and health systems throughout the United States.

In addition, BioReference has announced a partnership with the New York State Department of Health to provide testing for the first public drive-through testing facility on the East Coast. The facility will be located in New Rochelle, NY, the epicenter for the New York State outbreak.

BioReference, in partnership with the state of New York, also expects to begin offering up to 5,000 tests a day at additional satellite testing sites to be set up next week.

The stock has been trading between $1.33 and $2.91 in the past one year, and closed Thursday's trade at $1.42, down 27 cents or 15.98%. Trading volume rose to 15.7 million versus an average volume of 8.63 million shares.