SARS-CoV-2 Mutations – Cause for Concern? (Revised 1)

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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on other diseases

Despite the introduction of protective measures, the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to take hold across the world. The latest data from the World Health Organisation indicates that over 40 million cases and 1.1 million deaths have been reported, with the spread of SARS-CoV-2 continuing to accelerate1. Aside from the direct implications on individuals, their families, and our collective lifestyles, there are also profound indirect effects of rising infection rates. These include barriers to accessing essential healthcare, mental health impacts, limited [...]

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COVID-19 in the winter season – overcoming new challenges with the Winterplex™

Distinguishing COVID-19 infection from other respiratory illnesses is of crucial importance in controlling the spread of the disease. This is especially true during the winter months, where there is a surge in flu cases as well as other illnesses. The genesig® SARS-CoV-2 Winterplex enables clinicians to simultaneously test for COVID-19 and other winter illnesses, providing reliable results in under two hours.   As we enter the winter months of 2020, there are several unknowns about how the severity and spread of COVID-19 [...]

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Review of winter testing requirements

Welcome back to the latest blog! As we edge closer to the winter season. This year will be a pivotal time for testing compared to previous years. Each year during the winter seasons hospitals are presented with an increase in hospital admissions and busier intensive care units as the risk of developing a virus becomes greater.  During the winter seasons, various viruses peak such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other forms of cold and flu viruses. Those that become [...]

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Want to know more about Novacyt’s Near-Patient Testing System?

Novacyt’s Near-Patient Test System (NPTS) for COVID-19 Introduction The value of testing for COVID-19 is well documented not only in the UK, but globally as we reflect on how the disease has spread and impacted countries differently. Whilst testing is widely accepted as the greatest weapon we currently have against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, implementation has not been without its challenges as various issues have limited healthcare systems in being able to reach their targets for desired testing output, as well as [...]

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Revolutionising your testing with exsig™ COVID-19 Direct

Hello! Welcome back to our latest blog. All departments have been working tirelessly to find an innovative solution following the bottle-neck of scarce raw materials that clinicians require to test.  SARS-CoV-2 is a continuing pandemic and the demand for the hard to source raw materials continues to be a challenge for many laboratories. Here at Primerdesign we are fully focused on supporting global efforts in the fight against this deadly disease.  Early and accurate diagnosis is pivotal in disease control.  We are [...]

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Introducing exsig™

    We are proud to have launched exsig™ a family of extraction workflow products tailored to suit your requirements in testing.  exsig™ is a product range like no other consisting of various products from complete workflow solutions to enhanced magnetic bead technology, so if one product doesn’t suit your needs another will. Together exsig™ can bring to your lab a solution that works on getting the most out of your sample from start to finish to give you great quality and trustworthy results. exsig™ COVID-19 Direct exsig™ COVID-19 [...]

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