Diagnostic solutions company Pathnostics has launched a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory test that detects acute infections.

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The test has been designed to support the US healthcare workers in their efforts to keep their patients, colleagues and workplaces safe.
Administered using a simple nasal swab, the test detects the genetic information of the virus within 24 to 48 hours. It helps the identification of three regions of the SARS-CoV 2 RNA.
To ensure the safety of healthcare and other essential workers during transit of the sample to the laboratory, the sample is collected in a Pathnostics’ proprietary buffer package that inactivates the virus.
Moreover, the test does not require an out-of-pocket patient expense and is billed directly to insurance.
The company noted that it developed the new test after its customers who specialise in emergency, mobile and post-acute healthcare proposed a test that is easy to administer and adept at identifying people with active Covid-19 infection.
Pathnostics founder and chief scientific officer Dr David Baunoch said: “Pathnostics is committed to helping to build testing capacity during the Covid-19 crisis, particularly to support providers and other workers in the healthcare industry as they continue their essential work.
“Along with our Covid-19 PCR test, we will be launching a respiratory panel assay in the near future with the goal of identifying additional pathogens, which might be impacting Covid-19 patients, particularly those in long-term care situations.”
The company will perform the new PCR test as a Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) based on Thermo Fisher Scientific’s TaqPath RT-PCR COVID-19 Kit.
In March, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) to the Thermo Fisher’s TaqPath test.
