The independent platform for news, articles and advice for professionals in laboratory medicine

Viral transport media production scaled up in response to SARS-CoV-2

Teknova, a manufacturer of cell culture media and supplements, protein purification buffers, and molecular biology reagents, has responded to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic by significantly scaling up production of Viral Transport Medium (VTM) and saline.

All Teknova VTM is manufactured and validated according to the CDC procedure, and both VTM and saline are manufactured under GMP conditions in compliance with ISO 13485 standards and the Quality System Regulations under 21 CFR Part 820.

As the global pandemic struck, there was an almost immediate need to test millions of people around the globe for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the requirement for testing continues to increase. This pull on resources has led to shortages of different components of the testing workflow, including VTM (or universal sample transport medium), a sample collection solution for virus stabilisation that maintains virus viability from the point of collection to the testing laboratory.

As a leading, ISO 13485-certified manufacturer of cell culture media and related reagents, and with a track record of rapidly responding to customer needs, Teknova was well placed to support the testing community. Stephen Gunstream, Teknova’s CEO, said: “With our flexible, automated systems we were able to scale up quickly from 20,000 tubes a month in April, to around 30,000 tubes a day currently, and we are on track to produce more than three times that number of tubes daily over the coming months.”

Throughout this scale-up, Teknova has maintained its relentless focus on quality; in addition to the CDC validation tests, the company performs extended bioburden testing to support long-term stability. Teknova is also exploring ways of increasing the efficiency of the testing process. To this end, the company is pursuing a proprietary formulation of VTM that should decrease time to results and facilitate point-of-care testing.

www.teknova.com/sample-transport/

Upcoming Events

USCAP 113th Annual Meeting

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
23-28 March, 2024

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

USCAP 113th Annual Meeting

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
23-28 March, 2024

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025