EKF Diagnostics’ novel viral transport media PrimeStore MTM (Molecular Transport Medium) has been successfully evaluated for effective SARS-CoV-2 inactivation in a new study published by Public Health England (PHE). To work safely with live SARS-CoV-2 samples requires the use of high-containment laboratories. However, after inactivation SARS-CoV-2 material can be handled at a lower containment level, allowing more laboratories to undertake testing and thereby increasing COVID-19 testing capacity.
The PHE study evaluated numerous commercially available reagents and laboratory formulations commonly used for viral inactivation protocols by public health agencies and research laboratories globally. All the reagents tested have been used during the current COVID-19 pandemic for sample transportation and subsequent molecular processing. A total of 23 commercial reagents designed for virus inactivation, clinical sample transportation and nucleic acid extraction were assessed by PHE for their ability to inactivate SARS-CoV-2.
The study used TCID50 and blind passage techniques to test for any infectious virus still recoverable from all samples treated with the inactivation reagents. Notably, the study showed that PrimeStore MTM was the only commercially available transport reagent from the many tested from which no residual virus was detectable by either TCID50 or by the passaging of treated purified sample. This demonstrates the efficacy and safety of PrimeStore MTM in inactivating live SARS-CoV-2 samples whilst maintaining the ability to detect the target viral RNA.
In addition to this successful PHE evaluation of its effectiveness at deactivating SARS-CoV-2, PrimeStore MTM is also an FDA cleared and CE-IVD marked sample collection device. PrimeStore MTM removes the need for all cold chain logistics including sample storage; RNA and DNA are perfectly preserved for downstream molecular processing for up to four weeks at room temperature. Furthermore, because samples are rapidly inactivated, the risk of infection is eliminated, meaning samples are ready for safe testing immediately on arrival at a laboratory.
For more information, visit: www.ekfdiagnostics.com
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Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched the Thermo Scientific Smart-Vue Pro, a next-generation remote monitoring solution for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, clinical and academic laboratories. The device is designed to enable superior levels of sample protection, workflow efficiencies, asset/cost optimization and regulatory compliance.
With the option for an on-premise or cloud setup, the Thermo Scientific Smart-Vue Pro Remote Monitoring Solution provides real-time, continuous monitoring of critical laboratory equipment parameters and immediately notifies users about off-limit measurements that, if left unattended, could compromise sample safety and integrity. Notifications are delivered by email, text message or phone call, through a secure network, prompting corrective action.
Importantly, the Smart-Vue Pro solution delivers fully traceable data logging and secure user-level access to the complete system functionality at anytime from anywhere with Internet access, facilitating compliance with a wide range of regulatory standards, including 21CFR Part 11 and cGxP.
Operating on the LoRaWAN (Long-Range Wide Area Network) technology, the Smart-Vue Pro solution can simultaneously monitor conditions across several laboratories located on different floors or buildings. The LoRaWAN technology ensures a single receiver can cover up to 2km line of sight in urban areas, eliminating the need to invest in multiple monitoring systems. Scalability is further enhanced through the advanced modular, customizable architecture of the Smart-Vue Pro solution that supports up to four pre-calibrated Smart Digital Sensors. As a result, the system can monitor many pieces of equipment or multiple parameters within one piece of equipment at the same time. Finally, the Smart-Vue Pro solution allows for easy expansion to accommodate additional pieces of equipment without the need for costly upgrades. Overall, this improved scalability results in considerable installation, hardware and maintenance cost savings.
The Smart-Vue Pro solution features an interactive, colour touchscreen that displays data along with visual and audio alarms for at-a-glance monitoring, while enabling simplified and customizable views for an enhanced user experience.
Thermo Fisher Scientific supports the Smart-Vue Pro solution with end-to-end service and support packages to guide users through installation, validation, implementation and maintenance.
The Smart-Vue Pro solution is capable of monitoring temperatures ranging from −200°C to +150°C, relative humidity and dry contact state, with CO2 concentration and differential pressure set to be added to the system’s measurement capabilities in the near future.

• For more information, visit: www.thermofisher.com/smartvuepro

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Absolute Antibody Ltd., an industry-leading provider of recombinant antibody products and services, has announced the availability of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies derived from individuals infected with COVID-19. The antibodies, originally generated by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, have been engineered into recombinant formats useful for COVID-19 research and diagnostic development. They are now available to scientists and diagnostic developers worldwide via Absolute Antibody’s online catalogue.
The new antibodies were generated from the blood cells of an infected COVID-19 patient and have shown in a recent study to display neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2. Two antibody clones (CV1 and CV30) each bound the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, with CV30 also shown to bind the receptor binding domain (RBD) and inhibit the interaction with the host cell receptor ACE2. Both antibodies are now available in a variety of species, isotypes and subtypes designed to extend their usefulness in COVID-19 applications.
Absolute Antibody offers the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in human formats such as IgG1, IgG3, IgM and IgA, for use in neutralization assays and as serological controls in COVID-19 diagnostic tests. In addition, the antibodies are available in species such as mouse and rabbit for detection applications and co-labelling studies; fragment formats for better tissue penetration and in vivo imaging; and with engineered Fc Silent domains to facilitate research into antibody-dependent enhancement. All antibodies are recombinantly produced for ensured batch-to-batch reproducibility, high purity and low endotoxin levels.
The new neutralizing antibodies join Absolute Antibody’s full collection of engineered coronavirus reagents, including the spike glycoprotein antibody clone CR3022, nucleoprotein antibodies, ACE2 Fc fusion proteins, and anti-human immunoglobulin antibodies for use in diagnostic tests.
Absolute Antibody is also supporting coronavirus research by providing antibody engineering and manufacturing services, including the production of gram quantities of human antibodies sequenced from recovering COVID-19 patients.

• For more information, visit: https://absoluteantibody.com/general/sars-cov-2-neutralizing-antibodies

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