Bio-Rad launches COVID & Flu PCR kit

Bio-Rad Laboratories, a provider of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, has launched the Reliance SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB RT-PCR Kit (IVD) for European markets after having met the CE-IVD mark requirements.

The Reliance SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB RT-PCR Kit (IVD) is a single molecular test designed for clinical diagnostic labs that conduct COVID-19 testing. This specific respiratory panel detects the nucleocapsid gene of SARS-CoV-2, the M1 gene of flu A, and the NS2gene of flu B in nasopharyngeal swab specimens from individuals suspected of being infected by COVID-19. Because the assay for SARS-CoV-2 is designed to target the nucleocapsid gene instead of the spike protein gene, the assay’s performance is not affected by the known Coronavirus variants, as determined by in silico analysis (as of March 2021).

The assay kit contains Bio-Rad’s standard and negative molecular controls as well as assay reagents. The kit is validated to run on Bio-Rad’s CFX96 Dx Real-Time PCR System as well as real-time PCR systems from other manufacturers.

Steven Blakely, Bio-Rad global director of marketing, Life Science Group, Gene Expression, said: “With the upcoming flu season, a continuing COVID-19 pandemic, and many countries opening up and returning to the workplace, clinicians need a sensitive, reliable, and convenient way to detect common respiratory viruses and to differentiate cases of COVID-19 infection that do not involve flu A or flu B infection. We are pleased to launch the Reliance SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB RT-PCR Kit in Europe, providing much-needed expanded testing capacity. The kit simultaneously tests for all three viruses with high speed, sensitivity, and specificity, valuable for labs doing this important work.”