Siemens Healthineers is launching a rapid antigen test to detect SARS-CoV-2. The CLINITEST Rapid COVID-19 Antigen Test can identify infected people in 15 minutes, is easy to use, and will be launched in CE mark countries. The company also has plans to submit the antigen test to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorisation.

Scientists from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed a new score that will help predict the severity of the infection in Covid-19 patients. The Dublin-Boston score, as it is called, allows clinicians to make better decisions when advising patients on the use of steroids, or admission to intensive care units. The novel score can accurately predict the severity of the infection on the seventh day, after measuring patients’ blood samples in the first four days.

Centogene, a commercial-stage company focused on rare diseases, and U-Diagnostics, a medical laboratory, have collaborated to provide increased Covid-19 testing capacities in the Netherlands. The partnership is a result of the growing number of cases and limited testing capacities in the country. As per the agreement, U-Diagnostics will offer increased testing services, while Centogene will provide the CentoSwab swabbing solution, and the samples will be tested in Centogene laboratories

Paragon Genomics, a provider of amplicon-based target enrichment solutions, has developed a new coronavirus-related CleanPlex next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests. The CleanPlex ACE2 and TMPRSS2 Panel evaluates the differences in patients’ genetic vulnerability to the infection and to develop severe form of the disease. CleanPlex technology is expected to produce accurate and informative results in about five hours and with efficient workflow and low sequencing costs.