A new biological reagent is now available to labs
around the UK and the world, that will help them to set up and
develop accurate diagnostic tests for coronavirus
(COVID-19). It is intended to be used in tests that confirm
whether an individual is currently infected with the
virus.
The reagent can be used as a positive control for the
testing systems used to detect the presence of COVID-19. A
positive control is included in tests by means of a sample that
contains a known amount of the coronavirus genetic material. This
acts as a confirmatory sample that assures the test is working
correctly.
The reagent is non-infectious genetic material from
SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19
pandemic. An initial batch of 1,500 vials is available from
the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control
(NIBSC) with production of a further batch currently
underway.
An expert centre of the Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency, NIBSC has fast-tracked the
development and production of this reagent. It is to be made
freely available globally and will help more laboratories to
respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Nicola Rose, Head of the Division of
Virology at the NIBSC, said:
“Accurate diagnostic tests are a vital component in
the fight against COVID-19.
“This reagent is a great example of the NIBSC rapidly
responding to public health needs in the response to COVID-19.
The development of the research material is a prelude to the
production of established standards and reference materials that
laboratories can use in their own work on COVID-19, and we will
continue to make producing this material an absolute
priority.”
Health Minister ,
said:
“We have built the largest diagnostic testing
industry in British history from scratch in a matter of
weeks.
“Thanks to our world-leading scientists and
clinicians, we’ve now been able to fast-track a new biological
reagent to help the UK and countries across the globe carry out
even more tests and develop ever more accurate ways of diagnosing
the virus.
“It’s yet another example of the UK’s pioneering life
sciences sector leading the way in the fight against
coronavirus.”
The rapid availability of biological materials is a
key component in global response efforts to tackle the COVID-19
outbreak. The availability of the reagent also supports the
Government’s new national testing strategy, which involves
testing in NHS and PHE laboratories, as well as in a completely
new network of labs, mobile testing units and home testing kits
across the UK, to boost testing capacity.
ENDS
Additional SARS-CoV-2-related research
materials are also available from the
NIBSC.
Email COVID19_reagents@nibsc.org for
more information or to order this research
material.
