SD Biosensor's kits can detect Omicron variant

SD Biosensor's Covid-19 self-test kits are displayed in a GS25 convenience store in May. [NEWS1]

SD Biosensor announced Tuesday its Covid-19 test kits are effective at detecting all Covid-19 variants, including Omicron.

“Upon the results of an internal assessment, we found that the sensitivity and efficacies of SD Biosensor’s Standard Q and M test kits are not affected by Covid-19 variants, including Omicron,” the company said.

The Standard M test kit is being used at Covid-19 testing sites while the Standard Q test kit is a kit people can use at home. The at-home test kit has 94.9 percent sensitivity and 100 percent specificity, according to the company, and the result comes within 15 minutes.

Omicron, first detected in South Africa, was declared by the World Health Organization a “variant of concern” last week. The virus has been detected in Australia, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Hong Kong and Germany.

“It is very unfortunate that the world found a new variant while all countries were in the process of achieving a return to normal daily life,” Lee Hyo-keun, CEO of SD Biosensor, said in Tuesday’s statement. “SD Biosensor will endeavor to help end the pandemic quickly through our quality products.”

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