CORONAVIRUS NEWS

Avacta Group has announced that the AffiDX SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen lateral-flow test detects the dominant new variants of the coronavirus, known as the B117 (Kent), variant, and the D614G variant, as well as the original strain.

Roche Diagnostics has launched a rapid antigen nasal test in the UK, with millions of kits available immediately to help businesses and organisations looking to reopen as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Bio-Rad Laboratories has announced the launch of the Bio-Plex Pro Human IgG SARS-CoV-2 N/RBD/S1/S2 4-Plex Panel.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in a challenging work environment. This has made the development and commercialisation of vaccines, treatments and critically needed PCR-based and serological diagnostics especially challenging.

Randox has processed its 10-millionth sample for the UK’s COVID-19 National Testing Programme, making it the first Pillar 2 testing laboratory to achieve this milestone, having invested £85 million since March 2020 in facilities and equipment.

Avacta Group has received the first data for its SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test from ongoing clinical studies in Europe and the UK, which show excellent performance in identifying patients with an infectious viral load and no false positive results.

South African scientists warn of grave danger that disinfectant use against SARS-CoV-2 could be helping bacteria to become resistant to disinfectants.

The in vitro diagnostics industry has been at the forefront of the fight against SARS-CoV-2 and medicine’s response to cases of severe COVID-19 disease.

Avacta Group and Mologic have entered a partnership to market Avacta’s AffiDX SARS-CoV-2 lateral-flow rapid antigen test. Avacta will also support antigen testing in low- and middle-income countries by providing access to Avacta’s spike antigen test.

The British Society for Microbial Technology (BSMT) will hold a virtual conference entitled ‘COVID-19 – The Infection Challenging the World' over four days in May. Click on this story for an update on the conference programme and commercial support.

Avacta Group has entered into a collaboration agreement with Bruker to evaluate the Affimer-based, bead-assisted mass spectrometry (BAMS) SARS-CoV-2 assay, developed with Adeptrix.

The British Society for Microbial Technology (BSMT) is organising a virtual conference entitled ‘COVID-19 – The Infection that Challenged the World: Is Necessity the Mother of Invention?’

Beckman Coulter has launched its Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assay in countries accepting the CE mark. The new Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG II assay quantitatively measures a patient’s level of antibodies in response to a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Randox Laboratories has launched its new SARS-CoV-2 IgG test, utilising patented Randox Biochip Technology to simultaneously detect IgG antibodies that are reactive to both the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid protein (NP).

Q2 Solutions, a global clinical trial laboratory services organisation, resulting from an IQVIA and Quest Diagnostics joint venture, has announced a partnership with Adaptive Biotechnologies, a pioneer and leader in immune-driven medicine.

Mologic a developer of lateral-flow and rapid diagnostic technologies, has announced that its professional-use COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test has now been certified with a CE mark.

Introduction of improved software for the Vivalytic analysis device means that the CE-marked Vivalytic SARS-CoV-2 rapid coronavirus test, which uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), now delivers its results even faster.

Scientific Laboratory Supplies (SLS) and international life sciences company Eppendorf have been chosen to provide ultralow-temperature (ULT) freezers for the country’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines.

Vitamin C can save the lives of those badly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease, and make symptoms of milder infections less severe. This is a key finding from a major review just published by senior experts from around the world.

British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) Chief Executive Doris-Ann Williams has welcomed the confirmation of the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by British regulators.