NEW YORK – Molecular analysis firm Aegea Biotechnologies announced Tuesday it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Tauriga Sciences to develop a rapid multiplexed PCR-based test for SARS-CoV-2.
The test, which is being developed by Aegea, will be designed "to have superior sensitivity and selectivity," and will measure the virus from nasal or other swabs, the companies said. The test will also use Aegea's technologies, which can detect targets with single-nucleotide resolution, to differentiate between different strains of the virus.
It can be run on most PCR-based instruments and is designed to be multiplexed and use a single amplification reaction. The company also said Aegea's Selector ctDNA technology can be used to identify current strains of the virus along with new strains if it mutates.
According to the companies, the test should be able to measure viral shed in patients who are asymptomatic, which provides information on how contagious or virulent the patient could be and can help reduce the spread of the virus.
"Tauriga is providing important resources to quickly commercialize our highly sensitive and specific novel coronavirus test," Aegea Founder and CEO Lyle Arnold said in a statement. "We value the extensive and high-level relationships with potential distributors and customers that Tauriga has built over the years."