Takara Bio Europe (TBE) announce the launch of an in vitro diagnostic assay for the qualitative detection of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) from patients suspected of having Covid-19, based on real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR). This CE-IVD kit complies with the Directive 98/79/EC on in vitro medical devices and is available for immediate distribution in selected countries...

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a global leader of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, has announced the launch of the Bio-Plex™ Pro Human IgA and IgM SARS-CoV-2 panels to detect IgA and IgM antibodies against four SARS-CoV-2 antigens....

AMSBIO has further expanded its product range to help in the fight against COVID-19 with the introduction of a new range of aptamers targeting SARS-CoV-2 proteins to aid development of new kits and assays. Aptamers are small single-stranded RNA or DNA oligonucleotides that fold in a three-dimensional conformation allowing them to bind specifically to a target. This target can be an organic molecule, free or carried in cells or tissues, or inorganic components, such as metal ions....

Hamilton Company and Rhinostics, an early-stage Harvard University spin-out company, are combining their respective strengths to improve the speed and quality of nasal and nasopharyngeal sample workflows from collection to processing while also reducing the need for active labor involvement. This sample type is widely used to detect antibodies and antigens in relation to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and many other pathogens...

Why is the Delta variant so virulent ? Why did it surpass the Beta variant so quickly? An innovation by a GSA-University of Glasgow Masters graduate is set to help the public understand why certain variants dominate and have the impact they do. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has focussed everyone’s attention on the hidden world of viruses. The emergence of new variants such as Beta and Delta, affects us all: some variants spread more quickly and some are less affected by vaccines. But why?

A new study has revealed key insights into the natural human antiviral defences against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The research, published in the journal Science and led by a team of scientists at the MRC-University of GlasgowCentre for Virus Research, sheds new light on why some people are naturally more resistant to serious SARS-CoV-2 infection – and how, in the future, the coronavirus might overcome this resistance....

LGC is pleased to announce that the AccuPlex™ SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B and RSV Reference Material Kit is now CE marked for in vitro diagnostic use (CE-IVD). With this change in regulatory status, the new product name is AccuPlex SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B and RSV Molecular Controls Kit. Bearing the CE mark and IVD symbol signifies that the AccuPlex SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B and RSV Molecular Controls Kit meets extensive design control requirements....

MWE are a UK manufacturer & have been leaders in preanalytical medical devices since 1952.  Throughout 2020, 2021 and into 2022 we continue to help the UK government in the battle against COVID–19. Three of our main products used for COVID–19 are: Σ–MM™, ∑–VCM™ and Σ–VIROCULT^®. Σ–MM™ Inactivates SARS–CoV–2 in 60 seconds. Designed and manufactured in the UK, Σ–MM™ solution rapidly kills all microorganisms, including bacteria, mycobacteria and viruses, rendering specimens safe for transport...

Testing laboratories worldwide are challenged by the explosion in sample test numbers where they need to reliably track suspected COVID-19 patient swabs to 2D-coded tubes and then through to racks of 96 tubes. For this task a fast scanner that takes and stores high quality images is the preferred solution for establishing a traceable workflow of scanned patient swab tubes through to RT-PCR ready 2D-coded tube samples....

A unique type of tiny antibody produced by llamas could provide a new frontline treatment against Covid-19 that can be taken by patients as a simple nasal spray. Research led by scientists at the Rosalind Franklin Institute has shown that nanobodies – a smaller, simple form of antibody generated by llamas and camels – can effectively target the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19....

Leading British healthcare and testing company Salutaris People - which operates the rapid PCR testing services for airline passengers at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, in partnership with Test Assurance Group Ltd (TAG) Official Covid-19 testing partner to Liverpool John Lennon Airport)- has unveiled a brand new COVID testing laboratory at Liverpool John Lennon Airport....

Healthcare software entrepreneurs Clive Minihan and Andrew Halliday have had a busy 16 months. Predicting that the need to process Covid tests at scale would require the process to be digitised, the pair formed the startup Recova-19 in May 2020. Their testing portal has now facilitated the processing of more than 1.2 million tests with a team that has now grown to 10. The cloud-based SaaS platform application has proved so successful that the duo now plan to use it to further support resilience in the health care system...

Testing is fundamental to identify and prevent the spread of the coronavirus but how can laboratories access automation technologies to respond to increased demand? Penny Pinnock, Sales Manager – Healthcare & Public Sector for Siemens Financial Services, explores how smart finance can help labs to leverage automation and enhance testing capacity. As the impact of the coronavirus epidemic continues to grow, laboratories play a key role in the practice of testing which can help prevent the spread of the virus...

PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader committed to innovating for a healthier world, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the PerkinElmer® New Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Detection Kit for an additional indication that permits use of saliva as specimen type. The kit now has Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in saliva specimens collected...

Agilent Technologies Inc. announces that researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in India and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia have developed a rapid method for differentiating COVID-19-positive patients expected to show severe symptoms from those likely to experience only mild symptoms. The classification algorithm, published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, is based on infrared spectra of blood plasma, acquired on an Agilent Cary 630 FTIR Spectrometer....

One of the UK’s leading technology educators and innovators CREDERSI have teamed up with Covid testing solutions company DAM Health  to create the world’s first virtual reality Covid-19 lab training syllabus.  The move is aimed at increasing the number of lab technicians being trained in the UK to meet a mass skills shortage and crisis. Research carried out by the Gatsby Foundation prior to COVID-19 indicated that, by 2030, the UK will require a further 700,000 Lab Technicians...

Autoscribe Informatics has announced the release of a LIMS specifically optimized for Covid testing. The Matrix Covid LIMS is pre-configured for fast deployment into laboratories performing Covid testing. The solution has already been deployed in several clinical diagnostic laboratories to drive efficiency and aid identification of Covid positive cases in the fight against the global pandemic....

Researchers from the University of Birmingham, U.K., have confirmed the speed, accuracy and simplicity of a novel, highly sensitive testing method for COVID-19 that can be deployed at entertainment venues, airport arrival terminals, and in remote settings where clinical testing laboratories are not available. The scientists used a three way comparison study to confirm that the Exponential Amplification Reaction (EXPAR) method is just as sensitive, but faster, than both PCR and LAMP tests...

A complete workflow developed by Promega Corporation enables wastewater testing laboratories, including public health organizations, to quickly assess the health of entire communities from a single sample. The Maxwell® RSC Enviro Total Nucleic Acid Kit and Wizard^® Enviro Total Nucleic Acid Kit join a growing portfolio of products that support wastewater surveillance to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2....