MicroGEM™

In early 2020, MicroGEM International engaged SHEPPiD to explore conceptual designs for an immune monitoring device. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly escalated, the company pivoted its core technology to develop a saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 testing solution. This sudden shift rendered the original concepts obsolete—drastically altering the product’s size, function, and use-case requirements. The new focus demanded a complete rethinking of the device’s form and functionality for rapid, point-of-care deployment. Despite the abrupt transition, the project maintained strong momentum, ultimately securing over $50 million in funding through the NIH RADx (Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics) program. The result was the MicroGEM Sal6830—a breakthrough saliva-based COVID-19 test now authorized for clinical use across the U.S. and Canada under emergency and interim regulations.

SHEPPiD led the industrial design and end-to-end design integration for the MicroGEM Sal6830 saliva-based COVID-19 testing system. Our scope included design for manufacturing (DFM), brand identity, packaging design, regulatory labelling, user manuals, and quick reference guides. We also produced high-quality product photography and marketing visuals to support sales and investor engagement. Throughout the project’s critical development phases, SHEPPiD Director Adam Shepperdley served on MicroGEM’s management team—providing design governance and reporting directly to executive leadership to ensure design excellence, regulatory alignment, and cohesive product execution.

SHEPPiD’s ability to remain agile and responsive was critical to the project’s success. As the scope and requirements evolved rapidly, our team consistently delivered—often stepping beyond traditional core competencies to meet urgent needs with speed and precision. Taking on a leadership role within the client’s organization was a first for SHEPPiD, but it proved invaluable. By embedding directly within MicroGEM’s management structure, we ensured faster decision-making, tighter collaboration, and seamless execution—ultimately helping to bring a vital diagnostic product to market during a global health crisis.