CAP TODAY Pathology/Laboratory Medicine/Laboratory Management
Jan. 15, 2021–PerkinElmer announced that its PerkinElmer New Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Detection Kit received emergency use authorization from the FDA to test individuals without symptoms or other reasons to suspect COVID-19 infection.
A decision analytical model developed by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in JAMA Network Open found that close to 60 percent of total COVID-19 transmissions come from those who have no symptoms, the company reported.
“The data is clear–it’s imperative we have reliable and accurate testing for asymptomatic individuals, especially as we’re seeing new strains of the virus appear that are even more contagious,” Masoud Toloue, PhD, VP and general manager of diagnostics at PerkinElmer, said in a press statement. “PerkinElmer is in a unique position to help this cause, as we’re one of the few suppliers to have an EUA for asymptomatic testing, maintain the most sensitive test on the market along with a strong supply chain, and have the capability to do sample pooling to save time and resources for diagnostic laboratories.”