Founded in 2005 by Dr. Rob Powell, Dr. Jim Wicks, and Prof. Tom Brown at the University of Southampton, Primerdesign focuses on the development and provision of real-time PCR (qPCR) kits. In May 2016, Primerdesign was acquired by Novacyt SA for £9.85 million, with an additional £2.5 million contingent on achieving sales targets. Since then, Primerdesign has grown to become a global leader in molecular diagnostic solutions, with customers in over 100 countries.

Primerdesign stands out for its ability to respond rapidly to urgent diagnostic needs, such as the development of SARS-CoV-2 detection kits approved by the WHO for emergency use. With a wide product portfolio and the ability to develop custom solutions, Primerdesign has become a trusted partner in molecular diagnostics across various sectors.