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Roche, TIB Molbiol Develop More COVID-19 Tests To Identify Variant
The three COVID-19 test kits will allow differentiation between unique mutations present in the Omicron variant compared to other variants.
Roche and TIB Molbiol recently added three additional research use only test kits to detect mutations present in the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
The three test kits, VirSNip SARS Spike ins214EPE, VirSNiP SARS-CoV-2 Spike S371L S373P, and VirSNip SARS Spike E484A will allow differentiation between unique mutations present in the Omicron variant compared to other variants.
Researchers will use the VirSNip kit on LightCycler and cobas z 480 analyzers and qPCR technology to help researchers with improved variant detection and viral research.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be an evolving and complex situation, and Roche is committed to responding to healthcare’s biggest challenges,” Thomas Schinecker, CEO of Roche, said in the announcement.
“The teams at TIB Molbiol have worked around the clock since the new variant emerged, and today we are able to offer a test that can specifically identify the novel B.1.1.529 Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant to help better understand its spread and behavior,” Schinecker continued.
In January 2020, TIB Molbiol and Roche provided the first research using only the SARS-CoV-2 detection test.
And TIB Molbiol developed the three most recent test kits for SARS-CoV-2 virus research and detecting mutations of SARS-CoV-2 variants, enabling Roche to deliver an “agile” response to the evolving variant situation.
Based on initial analysis, the cobas SARS-CoV-2 Variant Set 1 test may detect one of the Omicron variant mutations, 69-70, in the spike protein. This region allows the virus to attach to and enter the human cell. Therefore, it can identify the Omicron variant.
In September, Roche signed a definitive share purchase agreement to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding shares of TIB Molbiol to boost its molecular diagnostics solutions profile.
The acquisition will enhance Roche’s solutions with a wide range of assays for infectious diseases, including the identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants. TIB Molbiol’s portfolio of over 45 CE-IVD assays and more than 100 research assays are currently available on Roche’s LightCycler PCR systems and MagNA Pure sample preparation systems.
