COVID-19 Archives - Primerdesign Real-Time PCR Blog

10 Aug

Boosting reassurance for international travel through reliable COVID-19 testing

As international travel begins to re-open following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a growing need for reliable, high-quality tests to satisfy the border requirements of different countries. The travel industry and private testing providers need to be assured that the tests they use are fit for purpose – not just in terms of performance but also that they meet government standards and international regulations. As of June 22, 2021, there is a range of different testing requirements for travellers [...]

COVID-19, genesig qPCR Detection Kits

24 Jun

Don’t let COVID-19 distract you from a rise in other infectious diseases – stay alert!

The growth of the COVID-19 pandemic globally over the past 18 months has been exponential, and despite mitigating measures and the vaccine roll-out, the virus continues to mutate and spread. As of 5.21pm CEST June 15, 2021, there had been 176,156,662 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3,815,486 deaths, reported to WHO1. Important though it is to continue world efforts to tackle SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, the impact of the virus on other infectious diseases should not be ignored. Whilst social distancing measures and lockdowns have kept some [...]

COVID-19, News

12 May

Continual testing is critical to avoid a virus ‘pole-vault’

A multi-layered approach comprising vaccines, testing, lockdowns where necessary and medication will be essential for the foreseeable future in combatting COVID-19 – described as an “extraordinarily transmissible virus,” during the NovaTalk webinar on May 7th. “In fact, there’s no going back to normal,” said Professor Alex Welte, Research Professor at The South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA). “People will have to get used to a viable new normal, as we co-exist with a mutating virus.” Talking about the [...]

COVID-19, Events

23 Apr

Global bioinformatics surveillance drives innovation in SARS-CoV-2 variant detection tests

Market-leading intelligence is the catalyst behind Novacyt’s ability to anticipate – and respond – to emerging new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Global tracking of virus mutations enables its R & D division to quickly develop tests that not only identify variants of concern (VOCs) – originally identified in countries such as the UK, Brazil, South Africa etc – in less than two hours but also identify and add mutations that are likely to become biologically relevant. Novacyt’s bioinformatics surveillance group has worked with [...]

Behind the scenes, COVID-19, genesig qPCR Detection Kits

14 Apr

Novacyt Group: PathFlow® technology and knowledge underpin our drive for continued innovation

Advancing technology and a unique wealth of knowledge are the driving forces behind innovative development in our PathFlow® portfolio of diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. Our latest addition to the range – the PathFlow® SARS-CoV-2 IgG – is an easy-to-use, rapid, lateral flow test for the detection of COVID-19 antibodies. It’s a natural evolution in the Novacyt Group’s range of COVID-19 diagnostic solutions, building on our growing expertise in this field, plus our ability to maximise the potential of our technologies [...]

COVID-19

01 Apr

PathFlow®: Future innovation of COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing

PathFlow®: Future innovation of COVID-19 Lateral Flow Testing Advancing technology and a unique wealth of knowledge are the driving forces behind innovative development in our PathFlow® portfolio of diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. This includes innovative product development in our PathFlow® portfolio – part of our Microgen Bioproducts division – where the new SARS-CoV-2 IgG rapid test is a natural addition to a fast-growing range of assays for the rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases. PathFlow® COVID-19 testing solutions: As the demands for [...]

COVID-19, News

04 Mar

Evolution of testing and sequencing during COVID-19 is vital to future pandemic control

The advances in testing and genome sequencing during the COVID-19 pandemic will be crucial to predicting and managing future pandemics, according to scientific discussion during the NovaTalk webinar on February 26. What’s more, the expanse of science over the past 15 months could now be applied to tackling the growing worldwide incidence of antibiotic resistance. Prof. Sharon Peacock, Director of the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium and Professor of Public Health and Microbiology at the University of Cambridge, said: “I’m not afraid [...]

COVID-19, Events

27 Jan

SARS-CoV-2 Mutations – Cause for Concern?

SARS-CoV-2 Mutations – Cause for Concern? The accumulation of genetic mutations is a normal part of viral evolution. Mutations change the sequence of the viral genome, creating different ‘variants.’ While some mutations might be silent, with no visible clinical effect, others might have implications for disease transmission, severity, reinfection potential, and immunity. SARS-CoV-2 variants A recently described clinically significant mutation has been termed N501Y, which put simply means that the amino acid ‘N’ at position 501 of the spike protein has [...]

COVID-19, News

20 Jan

Learn more about COVID-19 antibody testing

Learn more about our range of COVID-19 solutions and how they could help with your diagnostic needs. As we enter 2021, we also move into a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health services must be prepared to respond to new challenges, including the resurgence of the virus, the emergence of new strains, coordinating the roll-out of vaccination programmes, and supporting patients with ‘long covid1.’ The development of reliable mass testing services is crucial in limiting the spread of COVID-19. Novacyt’s [...]

COVID-19, genesig qPCR Detection Kits, Winter Testing

24 Dec

What does the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants mean for testing?

What does the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants mean for testing? The UK has recently been at the centre of considerable media attention due to the detection of a large number of COVID-19 cases caused by a new variant of the viral pathogen. This new SARS-CoV-2 variant, has been the subject of particular interest because it is associated with higher transmission rates. It has also been cited as the primary reason for introducing tighter restrictions over Christmas, a period usually [...]

COVID-19, News