Novacyt (NCYT ) has unveiled plans to expand its VersaLab™ service with the launch of mobile processing laboratories (MPL) which will offer rapid turnaround COVID-19 testing.
The group, which specialises in clinical diagnostics on an international scale, launched VersaLab™ in December 2020 to support private sector testing of infectious diseases.
VersaLab™, which is initially focused on COVID-19, has enabled Novacyt to identify a growing number of UK and international mobile testing opportunities in the private sector.
The service will be expanded to provide rapid turnaround polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on-site where testing will be performed sing mid-nose nasal swabs. These were found to be effective and well tolerated compared to the nasopharyngeal swabs in a previous interim review of Queen Mary University of London's clinical trial in care homes.
Novacyt has outlined that its MPLs will be fully equipped with its PROmate™ assay as well as q16 PCR instruments. The group’s PROmate™ assay is the only direct-to-PCR COVID-19 assay approved by the Department of Health and Social Care's Technology Validation Group.
The PROmate™ workflow, which includes a viral inactivation buffer, means the MPLs do not require a category 2 laboratory to handle the live virus. As a result, the cost of testing is reduced, as well as the risks associated with handling the live virus in a mobile testing unit.
Novacyt said the workflow allows it to provide rapid results to patients in under 80 minutes. The group recognises itself as one of the first ‘to offer mobile testing units to deliver same day, on-site results using the gold standard sensitivity and specificity of PCR technology.’
Shares in Novacyt have increased by nearly 30% in value since the beginning of October 2020. The stock was trading 1.44% higher this morning at 704.5p following the news.
The group also detailed that each MPL is able to process up to 900 COVID-19 samples per day, depending on customer needs. Novacyt said this throughput model supports multiple use cases ‘such as on-site testing at workplaces, schools, sporting and music events.’
Currently, Novacyt is in the process of validating the use of its SNPsig® portfolio with PROmate™ to enable a mobile workflow solution that can detect the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and identify variants to support healthcare providers rapidly identify outbreaks.
Graham Mullis, Chief Executive of Novacyt said, "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Novacyt has focused on innovation to ensure we adapt in line with a rapidly evolving market
The roll-out of our VersaLab™ MPL units is an exciting development for Novacyt, as we continue to bring PCR technology outside of the central laboratory and closer to patients.”
He added, “We believe this option provides companies and communities with reliable and fast turnaround results to deal with localised surge infections or for routine localised mass testing.
The need for localised community testing and monitoring of COVID-19 infections looks set to continue over the next 12 months and it is our view that much of this testing could be undertaken by the private sector. Novacyt is therefore well-placed to support this growth opportunity."
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