DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS [Abstract]
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	NOTE 1 — DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS: Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Chembio”), develop, manufacture, and commercialize point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests that are used to detect or monitor diseases. All products that are currently being developed are based on the Company’s patented DPP^® technology, a novel point-of-care diagnostic platform that offers certain customer advantages as compared to traditional lateral flow technology. POC tests, by providing prompt and early diagnosis, can reduce patient stays, lower overall costs, improve therapeutic interventions and improve patient outcomes. POC tests can also prevent needless hospital admissions, simplify testing procedures, avoid delays from central lab batching, and eliminate the need for return visits. Our product commercialization and product development efforts are focused in three areas: sexually transmitted disease, tropical & fever disease, and technology collaborations. In sexually transmitted disease, we are commercializing tests for HIV and Syphilis. In tropical and fever disease, we are commercializing a test for Zika virus, and developing tests for malaria, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, ebola, lassa, Marburg, leptospirosis, Rickettsia typhi, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and Orientia tsutsugamushi, individually or as part of fever panel tests. Through technology collaborations, we are developing tests for a specific form of cancer, concussion, bovine tuberculosis, and for an undisclosed biomarker, the latter in collaboration with global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Large and growing markets have been established for these kinds of tests, initially in high prevalence regions where they are indispensable for large scale prevention and treatment programs. Our product development is focused on areas where the availability of rapid, POC screening, diagnostic, or confirmatory results can improve health outcomes. More generally, we believe there is and will continue to be a growing demand for diagnostic products that can provide accurate, actionable diagnostic information in a rapid, cost-effective manner at the point of care. Our products are sold to medical laboratories and hospitals, governmental and public health entities, non-governmental organizations, medical professionals and retail establishments, both domestically and internationally, under our STAT PAK^® SURE CHECK^®, STAT-VIEW^® or DPP^® registered trademarks, or under the private labels of our marketing partners. The Company routinely enters into arrangements with governmental and non-governmental organizations for the funding of certain research and development efforts.

NOTE 1 — DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS:

Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Chembio”), develop, manufacture, and commercialize point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests that are used to detect or monitor diseases. All products that are currently being developed are based on the Company’s patented DPP^® technology, a novel point-of-care diagnostic platform that offers certain customer advantages as compared to traditional lateral flow technology. POC tests, by providing prompt and early diagnosis, can reduce patient stays, lower overall costs, improve therapeutic interventions and improve patient outcomes. POC tests can also prevent needless hospital admissions, simplify testing procedures, avoid delays from central lab batching, and eliminate the need for return visits.

Our product commercialization and product development efforts are focused in three areas: sexually transmitted disease, tropical & fever disease, and technology collaborations. In sexually transmitted disease, we are commercializing tests for HIV and Syphilis. In tropical and fever disease, we are commercializing a test for Zika virus, and developing tests for malaria, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, ebola, lassa, Marburg, leptospirosis, Rickettsia typhi, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and Orientia tsutsugamushi, individually or as part of fever panel tests. Through technology collaborations, we are developing tests for a specific form of cancer, concussion, bovine tuberculosis, and for an undisclosed biomarker, the latter in collaboration with global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

Large and growing markets have been established for these kinds of tests, initially in high prevalence regions where they are indispensable for large scale prevention and treatment programs. Our product development is focused on areas where the availability of rapid, POC screening, diagnostic, or confirmatory results can improve health outcomes. More generally, we believe there is and will continue to be a growing demand for diagnostic products that can provide accurate, actionable diagnostic information in a rapid, cost-effective manner at the point of care.

Our products are sold to medical laboratories and hospitals, governmental and public health entities, non-governmental organizations, medical professionals and retail establishments, both domestically and internationally, under our STAT PAK^® SURE CHECK^®, STAT-VIEW^® or DPP^® registered trademarks, or under the private labels of our marketing partners.

The Company routinely enters into arrangements with governmental and non-governmental organizations for the funding of certain research and development efforts.