QIAGEN NV  announced today that the company's polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based tests In view of the new, worrying variant that was discovered in South Africa, effectively detect SARS-CoV-2 infections without restrictions.

QIAGEN has successfully checked its SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests for the genetic mutations of the variant with the scientific name B.1.1.529. The assessment was carried out using the data available in the public databases GISAID and GenBank.

Efficacy has been demonstrated for all SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests from QIAGEN:

artus SARS-CoV-2 Prep & Amp UM Kit : A SARS-CoV-2 test with CE marking that combines sample preparation and detection in a single kit and a throughput of more than 670 tests per PCR cycler in an eight-hour Shift enables.
QIAstat-Dx : Syndromic testing system that includes the CE-marked QIAstat-Dx Respiratory 4 Plex Flu AB / RSV / SARS-CoV-2 test, which can be used to determine in about an hour whether patients have frequent, seasonal conditions Respiratory infections or SARS-CoV-2. QIAGEN also offers the QIAstat-Dx Respiratory  Test for the detection of more than 20 respiratory diseases, including COVID-19 infections, in the US, Europe and other markets.
NeuMoDx 96 and 288 : Integrated PCR test systems for performing laboratory tests. QIAGEN offers tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide that can be performed with this system. In the USA, the NeuMoDx Flu AB / RSV / SARS-CoV-2 VantageAssay is used to test patients who are suspected of having an infection.
In addition, the new variant is reliably verified by:

QIAGEN's digital PCR solution QIAcuity , which uses a SARS-CoV-2 test developed in cooperation with GT Molecular, Inc. for wastewater monitoring;
QIAGEN's QIAprep & amp Viral RNA Kit, which uses qPCR genotyping tests, provided jointly with biomers.net.
As before, QIAGEN will continue to closely monitor the reliability and performance of its tests in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and against the background of newly emerging variants. For this purpose, the monitoring of genetic variations is continued on a bi-weekly basis.

“The best way to tackle the global COVID-19 pandemic is to use a combination of comprehensive vaccination programs, rigorous testing using gold standard PCR tests, and aggressive surveillance of new variants. Above all, however, it is important to show empathy when dealing with people who are infected with SARS-CoV-2, ”said Dr. Davide Manissero, MD, Chief Medical Officer of QIAGEN NV

“We are pleased to be able to confirm that, with the help of our PCR tests, SARS-CoV-2 infections with the new, worrying variant can be detected just as reliably as infections with other previously known variants. Further, worldwide genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples will significantly increase transparency and help us to identify and react to potentially dangerous mutations in the virus. At the same time, this will expand the database with which we can check whether vaccines and tests are still effective, ”emphasized Manissero.

The new worrying variant joins a list of other variants with potentially increased portability. These include the alpha variant (B.1.1.7, first discovered in Great Britain), the beta variant (B.1.351, identified in South Africa) and the delta variant (B.1.1.28 P1, discovered in Brazil). As a virus encoded by RNA nucleotides, SARS-CoV-2 often mutates due to faulty or ineffective replication of the viral genome. In some cases, these mutations can produce viruses with altered properties or even completely new strains.

In order to better identify and differentiate potentially dangerous variants and ultimately to monitor the occurrence of potential mutations, positive SARS-CoV-2 samples are being sequenced with increasing frequency all over the world.

To support these initiatives, QIAGEN offers with QIAseq DIRECT SARS-CoV-2 and the bioinformatics analysis solution QIAGEN Digital Insight solutions for the rapid and comprehensive monitoring of virus genetic drifts around the world.

QIAGEN publishes the results of the product surveillance every two weeks with a view to new variants and genome databases at: www.qiagen.com/us/applications/infectious-disease/coronavirus/

Further information on QIAGEN's contribution in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 can be found at: www.qiagen.com .

About QIAGEN

QIAGEN NV, a Dutch holding company, is the world's leading provider of complete solutions for extracting valuable molecular insights from biological samples. QIAGEN's sample technologies enable the purification and processing of DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other substances. Test technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics solutions and knowledge databases help with the interpretation of data in order to obtain relevant and practically usable knowledge. Automation solutions integrate these into seamless and cost-effective molecular test workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers in the molecular diagnostics (healthcare) and life sciences (academic research, pharmacological R & E and industrial applications, mainly forensics) are available. As of September 30, 2021, QIAGEN employed approximately 6,000 people in over 35 locations worldwide. More information about QIAGEN can be found athttp://www.qiagen.com

Contacts:
QIAGEN
Investor Relations
John Gilardi
+49 2103 29 11711

Phoebe Loh
+49 2103 29 11457
e-mail: ir@QIAGEN.com

Public Relations
Thomas Theuringer
+49 2103 29 11826
e-mail: pr@QIAGEN.com

 

Source:businesswire.com

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