PCR test system that can detect even new strains of coronavirus has been developed by a team of Ukrainian researchers and is already available for pre-order.
In early March 2021, new (UK) strain of coronavirus was detected in Ukraine. The research was conducted by a team of experts from Farmak and L.V. Gromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases, led by Alla Myronenko.
The sequencing procedure, i.e. reading nucleotide sequence in the virus RNA as spelling a text, has been carried out for the first time in Ukraine due to the technological equipment purchased by Farmak. It should be noted that the experts and Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, stated that such methods of virus mutation monitoring were not available in Ukraine, but were extremely important.
“In case of differences in the genetic text (mutations), sequencing makes it possible to conclude on the new strains of the virus. The research results have confirmed the presence of a new strain of coronavirus in Ukraine,” the researchers note. The relevant results, as well as information on virus strains circulating in Ukraine since the beginning of the pandemic have been already posted in the GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data) international scientific database.
On March 3, a team of researchers confirmed that a new PCR test system (SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR multiplex test system) developed by Farmak experts detects a new strain of coronavirus in addition to those that have already spread.
Farmak test system is based on the test TaqPath™ COVID‑19 RT‑PCR Kit (Thermo Scientific, USA) that is authorized by the FDA (U.S. Federal Drug Administration). The high-quality components made in the USA are used for the manufacturing of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR multiplex test kit.
The quality of the new test system has been confirmed by the relevant conclusions of the State Institution “L.V. Gromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases” of the NAMS (National Academy of Medical Sciences) of Ukraine (Kyiv) and Mechnikov Institute of Microbiology and Immunology of the NAMS of Ukraine (Kharkiv). Moreover, reference tests of the PCR system are underway in private and public laboratories of Ukraine (Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnytsia), thus confirming its efficacy.
