Johnson Zhang: the leader behind the transformation of
Virtue Diagnostics Group and the new era of Labtest
(Second row, far left: Virtue Diagnostics Group CEO Johnson Zhang)
In September 2025, the CEO and founder of Virtue Diagnostics Group, Johnson Zhang, was in Brazil to participate in the 57th Brazilian Congress of Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Medicine (CBPC/ML) and to fulfill a series of strategic agendas with Labtest, a company from Minas Gerais acquired by the group in 2022.
The visit marked a new chapter in consolidating Virtue as a global leader in diagnostic innovation and strengthened Brazil’s position as a center of excellence in research, development, and manufacturing of in vitro diagnostic solutions.
Johnson Zhang’s Vision and Journey in the Global IVD Industry
With over 20 years of experience in the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry, Johnson Zhang has built a solid track record in global markets, leading international expansion, innovation, and merger projects.
Before founding Virtue Diagnostics, the executive worked for over a decade at PerkinElmer (PKI), where he played a decisive role in transforming the diagnostic operation in Asia—increasing the region’s revenue from US$10 million to approximately US$400 million. During that period, he led more than eight strategic acquisitions totaling US$1.5 billion.
In 2019, driven by the vision of democratizing access to cutting-edge diagnostic technologies, Zhang founded Virtue Diagnostics Group. Its purpose is clear: to accelerate innovation in clinical diagnostics for a healthier world, focusing on emerging markets and localized solutions that reduce global technological dependence.
The decision to integrate Labtest into Virtue Diagnostics’ global portfolio was the result of an in-depth analysis of the Latin American market. The group sought a partner with tradition, consolidated industrial infrastructure, and scientific expertise — and found in Labtest, with its more than 50 years of history and presence in over 50% of Brazilian clinical laboratories, the ideal combination of local strength and global vision.
Located in Lagoa Santa (MG), Labtest stood out for its production capacity, national reach, and history of innovation — having been the first Brazilian company to establish an independent R&D center.
The merger with Virtue combined Brazil’s pioneering spirit with the international reach of a group that now operates in China, Singapore, Indonesia, and Brazil, consolidating a hub for technological and industrial development throughout Latin America.
More than just a business move, this union represents a strategic milestone for the diagnostics sector in Brazil, boosting national competitiveness and promoting scientific advancement based on local innovation and global integration.
Innovation and product development
Under Zhang’s leadership, Virtue Diagnostics has become a company driven by innovation as its central pillar. The group continuously invests in research and development centers in Suzhou (China), Singapore, and Belo Horizonte (Brazil), fostering the creation of new technologies and the improvement of complete diagnostic platforms.
The current portfolio covers approximately 70% of the global IVD market demands, with a focus on chemiluminescence, biochemistry, hematology, and molecular biology.
Among the recent milestones is the global collaboration with Revvity, which granted Virtue exclusive rights to three product lines in the areas of cardiovascular and infectious diseases — expanding its international presence and reinforcing its strategy of offering integrated, sensitive, and accessible solutions.
With a focus on developing products adapted to local realities, Virtue seeks to combine cutting-edge technology with regional applicability, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and competitive cost for its partner laboratories.
The future of Virtue Diagnostics Group
Johnson Zhang’s vision for the future is ambitious and inspiring. The goal is to consolidate Virtue Diagnostics as a global leader in emerging markets, with robust operations in Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and India.
The plans include industrial expansion, new innovation hubs, and strengthening the “in region for region” strategy—producing locally to meet the specific demands of each market.
In Brazil, Labtest Virtue will become a strategic center not only for manufacturing, but also for research and the export of knowledge to the entire continent.
“Our commitment is to access. We want laboratories in emerging markets to have the same diagnostic quality found in the most advanced centers in the world,” emphasizes Johnson Zhang, CEO of Virtue Diagnostics Group.
With visionary leadership and a focus on global impact, Johnson Zhang reaffirms the purpose that guides his journey: to transform diagnostics into an accessible, accurate, and essential tool for everyone’s health.
About Virtue Diagnostics Group
Founded in 2019, Virtue Diagnostics is a global provider of in vitro diagnostic solutions, headquartered in Suzhou, China, with a strategic presence in Singapore, Indonesia, and Brazil.
The group offers a comprehensive portfolio covering biochemistry, chemiluminescence, hematology, and molecular biology, meeting approximately 70% of the diagnostic demands of emerging markets.
About Labtest Virtue
Founded in 1971, Labtest is one of the largest Brazilian in vitro diagnostic industries. A pioneer in the national production of reagents and laboratory equipment, it is headquartered in Lagoa Santa (MG) and distributes its products throughout Brazil and Latin America.
Since 2022, it has been part of the Virtue Diagnostics Group, strengthening its commitment to innovation, quality, and scientific development.
Toll-free number: 0800 031 3411
Phone: +55 31 3689-6900
Email: labtest@labtest.com.br
Website: labtest.com.br / www.virtuedx.com
