S’pore-made Acumen Diagnostics’ PCR kits able to detect both Omicron, Delta variants

SINGAPORE – The battle to fend off the new Omicron coronavirus variant has got a boost from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits developed by home-grown medical technology firm Acumen Diagnostics.

Its two PCR test kits – Acu-Corona 2.0 and Acu-Corona Duplex – which can detect the Delta variant, can now also identify the Omicron strain. These kits are already in use.

It was reported on Thursday (Dec 2) that two imported Covid-19 cases have preliminarily tested positive for the Omicron variant in Singapore.

The Acu-Corona 2.0 test targets two Covid-19 genes – RdRp and E – that are present in both the Omicron and Delta variants.

Meanwhile, the Acu-Corona Duplex test targets the E gene and S gene. The portion of the S gene targeted by the test does not contain any of the 32 mutations that occurred in the Omicron variant, hence it can detect the variant without any loss of sensitivity.

Omicron has a large number of gene mutations that have not been reported in a single viral variant before. So far, scientists have seen 32 mutations out of 5,000 genes on the spike protein, and this gives them reason to believe that Omicron may have fairly different characteristics from previous variants.

Acumen Diagnostics said on Friday that since the kits are locally manufactured, they can be deployed quickly and cost about half the price of imported ones.

The firm currently operates two laboratories that can process 7,000 diagnostic tests daily.

Dr Ong Siew Hwa, Acumen Diagnostics’ chief executive officer and chief scientist, said: “With PCR tests remaining the gold standard to detect Covid-19, Acumen Diagnostics remains well-positioned to help Singapore tackle this new challenge posed by the virus.”

The spread of the Omicron variant has upset the reopening of travel in many countries.

In Singapore, tighter border measures took effect from 11.59pm on Thursday, and three planned vaccinated travel lanes for Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been postponed indefinitely.

 

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