Roche announced today that its TIB Molbiol subsidiary has made available testing solutions that can identify a number of COVID-19 variants.
Basel, Switzerland-based Roche’s testing offerings can identify the SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) B.1.1.529 variant and differentiate between the omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.2.2, BA.3 and delta, according to a news release.
VirSNiP SARS-CoV-2 Spike S371L S373P and VirSNiP SARS-CoV-2 Spike S371L S373P 452R are Roche’s research use-only tests now available, adding to the test kits previously developed by Roche and TIB Molbiol for detecting recent BA.1 and BA.2, as well as other mutations, present in the novel B.1.1.529 omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant.
The company said TIB Molbiol’s researchers work in collaboration with academic contacts to continually screen for new variants and emerging diseases.
“Roche is pleased to offer testing options addressing the ongoing COVID-19 healthcare crisis, specifically in response to the WHO’s recent recommendation that the omicron BA.2 subvariant should continue to be monitored by public health authorities,” Roche Diagnostics CEO Thomas Schinecker said in the release. “In addition to detecting the SARS-CoV-2, irrespective of the variants, we are able to provide testing solutions identifying and differentiating between BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.2.2,BA.3 and Delta.
“It’s critical to quickly and accurately identify variants to inform ongoing research – including the ongoing development of therapeutics and vaccines. This can potentially stop or slow down the advancement of the disease.”