Seegene's new Covid test specializes in variants

Seegene released a test kit capable of screening the highly contagious Delta and Lambda variants of Covid-19, the test-kit maker said Monday.

The kit, called Novaplex SARS-CoV-2 Variants V Assay, can detect the virus from samples from patients’ noses as well as saliva. Results are available in about 2 hours and 30 minutes, compared to a full day for other tests, including DNA analysis, according to the company.

The product targets the fast-spreading Delta and Lambda variants, which have become the most common forms of the virus currently circulating around the world. The Delta variant spread to a total of 163 countries as of the end of August, while the Lambda has spread to 31.

Vaccines' effectiveness against Covid-19 infection dropped from about 91 percent to 66 percent since the outbreak of the Delta variant, according to a study published by the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Chile, one-third of patients are infected with the Lambda variant.

Seegene said the new test kit will help “effectively prevent the further spread of variants globally.”

“Seegene is checking many types of Covid-19 variants that have been occurring across the globe in real time,” said Lee Min-cheol, Seegene’s chief technology officer. “We’ve also been developing a product that can detect the novel Mu variant, which started in Colombia.”

“Seegene will make continuous efforts to quickly develop more products for Covid-19 variants in order to contribute to stopping the further spread of the pandemic across the globe,” Lee added.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]