ProPhase Labs debuts single saliva test for COVID, flu

ProPhase Labs (NSDQ:PRPH) announced today that it is introducing a new saliva-based test for COVID-19, Influenza A, B and more.

Garden City, N.Y.-based ProPhase Labs said in a news release that it filed for FDA emergency use authorization for its two new testing methodologies, which integrate the Spectrum Solutions saliva self-collection system with a new multiplex qPCR platform for simultaneous RNA detection of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 viral mutations, Influenza A, B and more.

The SDNA Viral saliva-based testing combination offers pain-free self-collection, 100% in-device viral neutralization, the removal of the need for cold-chain storage of samples and overall consistency and accuracy, ProPhase Labs said.

Spectrum Solutions developed the first saliva-based COVID-19 test to garner FDA EUA in April, working in tandem with Accurate Diagnostics Labs and Rutgers University’s RUCDR.

“We are privileged t…

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FDA warns of cyanide gas danger with improper use of Hologic COVID-19 tests

Hologic’s Panther system (Image from Hologic)

The FDA warned laboratories today that using certain transport media for COVID-19 samples with Hologic (NSDQ:HOLX) Panther and Panther Fusion diagnostic systems can produce deadly cyanide gas.

Transport media is the liquid that maintains a specimen sample while it is transported to a laboratory. The Hologic Panther systems and others that have been sterilized using bleach can interact with transport media containing guanidine thiocyanate or similar chemicals to produce deadly cyanide gas, according to the agency. Guanidine thiocyanate may be referred to as guanidinium rhodanide, guanidinium thiocyanate or guanidinium.

While there have been reports of these potentially hazardous interactions, there have been no injuries reported to the FDA associated with exposure to cyanide gas as a result of using incompatible media with testing platforms.

Nu…

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