15th Dec 2021 11:56
(Alliance News) - Avacta Group PLC said on Wednesday that its AffiDX antigen lateral flow test has been shown to detect the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in clinical samples.
The Leeds-based biotechnology company said its AffiDX antigen lateral flow test had been evaluated at the Carlos III Hospital in Madrid, Spain using a small number of actual patient samples confirmed to be Omicron variant positive.
The results indicate that the AffiDX antigen test detects the new Omicron variant in addition to all previously identified new variants of concern. The Omicron variant has more than 35 mutations of the original Covid virus and was designated a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation in November.
Chief Executive Alastair Smith said: "As this variant is more infectious, it is important that it can be detected in individuals with higher loads using lateral flow tests so that its spread can be slowed down. We are progressing with our application to the [Covid test device approval regulator] in order to put the AffiDx product on the market in the UK, as well as continuing to pursue commercial opportunities in Europe and further afield for the professional-use test. We also continue to work with our partners, Medusa 19 Healthcare Ltd, to obtain the CE mark for consumer self-testing for the product which is a critical next step in the commercialisation of the product."
Shares in Avacta were up 0.3% at 109.28 pence on Wednesday in London.
By Heather Rydings; [email protected]
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