Tests for detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 now available from Euroimmun
EUROIMMUN AG (Lübeck, Germany), a manufacturer of reagents and instruments for medical laboratory diagnostics, has developed serological tests for detection of antibodies against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The two ELISAs enable detection of specific IgA and IgG against the virus in the blood of infected patients.
Coronaviruses constitute a large family of viruses which can infect people and animals, for example birds and mammals. Coronavirus infection can lead to a simple cold, but also to severe or even fatal disease. In the outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002 / 2003 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012 / 2013, hundreds of people died. For COVID-19 the WHO has reported over 75,700 infections and 2,129 deaths as of 20th February 2020. Cases have been reported in 26 different countries and regions worldwide. At the end of January the WHO declared the new infectious disease a global health emergency.
Reliable test systems are needed to identify infections with SARS-CoV-2 and to help control the spreading wave of infections.
The Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISAs are now available, and will shortly receive a CE mark. A real-time RT-PCR test for the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 is also under development and will be completed soon.
