News Roundup: Assay Plug-Ins, Viral Combo Test, and Tackling RSV
RSV news includes a new partnership, the launch of a combo test, a campaign to combat surging respiratory infections
Ian is the editorial assistant for LabX, Today's Clinical Lab, and Lab Manager. Before joining the team he obtained a masters in science communication from Laurentian University and an MSc in biology from Brock University. He has published several peer-reviewed papers and has a strong passion for sharing science with the world.
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UgenTec and Thermo Fisher commercialize respiratory assay plug-ins
Ugentec has entered into a deal with Thermo Fisher Scientific to provide several new CE-marked assay plug-ins for the FastFinder analysis system. Thanks to this collaboration, the FastFinder will be able to interpret results from Thermo Fisher’s TaqPath COVID-19 CE-IVD RT-PCR kit, as well as the TaqPath COVID-19, Flu A/B, and RSV Combo kit, all from one platform.
In a recent statement, UgenTec CEO Steven Verhoeven said: “With this next step, we can provide our joint customer labs with a compliant sample-to-result solution that builds on our [artificial intelligence] and data science capabilities to help them scale with a compliant solution.”
Newly launched combo test from BD
The BD MAX Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP) is a molecular diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, and RSV. Designed to help eliminate the need for multiple tests, the BD MAX RVP assay only needs a single nasal or nasopharyngeal swab sample to test for all four viruses. This easy-to-use system is an RT-PCR assay that detects and differentiates RSV, flu A, flu B, and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA in roughly two hours.
Nikos Pavlidis, vice president of molecular diagnostics at BD, said in a press release: “A combined testing panel is key to enabling clinicians to quickly and efficiently diagnose, differentiate, and treat patients to help manage the spread of the infections.”
Curbing surges in respiratory viruses
In an effort to help stem a surge in viral infections in Vietnam, Seegene has launched the In-Life PCR campaign. The campaign offers routine syndromic PCR testing for COVID-19, influenza A and B, and RSV in select markets. Seegene is in talks with numerous testing labs around the world hoping to launch more campaigns that target venues that require face-to-face interactions, such as schools and nursing homes.
“With infection rates remaining high, it is now more important than ever to make PCR testing routine by increasing accessibility and affordability,” said Jong-Yoon Chun, CEO of Seegene, in a press release.