IDvet, a company specialising in the development and production of diagnostic tests for the detection of infectious diseases in farm animals, has announced the commercial launch of a SARS-CoV-2 antibody test for humans.
The newly developed diagnostic test, which is ready to be rolled out on an ‘industrial scale’ to laboratories worldwide, can be used to determine whether or not an individual has developed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. In the UK, IDvet’s SARS–CoV2 antibody test will be distributed by diagnostic solutions company Serosep.
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), is specifically designed for high-volume testing in laboratories. It will be used for population screening studies, which will enable scientists to gain a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, therefore helping to inform government policy relating to the coronavirus and the lockdown restrictions currently in place. The product is CE-marked and available for immediate shipping.
IDvet’s new test shows high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, and it does not cross-react with other pathogens, including non-SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses. In addition, the test does not require specific nor costly equipment: the assay may be performed on any open automated immunoassay platform, or even manually.