Molecular diagnostic solutions company SpeeDx has announced that it has expanded its product line of research reagents for COVID-19 variant analysis to include a mutation connected to the delta variant.
The recently launched PlexPrime SARS-CoV-2 Genotyping product line utilises the company’s universal substrate approach and patented multiplexing technology to offer a streamlined solution to labs seeking to identify key VOCs in their positive SARS-CoV-2 sample population.
“We’re seeing labs around the globe struggling to keep up with requests for sequencing positive specimens as they contribute to the monitoring of VOCs,” said CEO Colin Denver
“Incorporating a PCR-based variant identification approach compatible with their COVID-19 frontline testing workflow is a straightforward solution to remove laboratory bottlenecks and focus attention on the samples that are truly required for further investigation.”
The company said its PlexPrime SARS-CoV-2 P681R Delta is a single well mix designed to detect the P681R spike mutation of SARS-CoV-2 found in B.1.617.2 (Delta) VOC, in addition to an RdRp gene target of SARS-CoV-2.
It said the reagent is the second product in the PlexPrime SARS-CoV-2 Genotyping portfolio and can be used as a stand-alone reflex or combined with PlexPrime SARS-CoV-2 Alpha/Beta/Gamma.
Compatible with standard qPCR instrumentation, the tests can be used with liquid handling automation and reduce the manual process of preparing positive samples for sequence analysis by focusing downstream activities only on key samples of interest.