Twist Bioscience Synthetic RNA Controls for SARS-CoV-2 UK Variant

Twist Bioscience has begun shipping new synthetic RNA reference controls for SARS-CoV-2 that include the new variant strain of the virus (B1.1.7 lineage, variant under investigation VUI-202012/01) identified in the UK. As the new strain contains multiple mutations in the spike protein and other areas of the viral genome, some of the RT-PCR probes used widely in COVID-19 testing no longer detect the S gene that codes for the spike protein, which can lead to false negative test results. Synthetic controls for this specific mutation will enable test developers to update their testing protocols, Twist said.