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Randox offers test for COVID-19 and nine other viruses

March 2020—Randox has made available a test for the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus.

Developed on Randox’s biochip technology, the test is an enhanced multiplex array that includes tests for COVID-19 and nine other respiratory viruses that can manifest the same symptoms. The new biochip makes it possible for clinicians to differentiate potentially lethal and non-lethal infections, Randox said.

“Current technologies for the diagnosis of coronavirus are designed simply to detect the presence or lack of COVID-19, and therefore neglect to differentiate between this strain and other respiratory infections,” Peter FitzGerald, managing director of Randox Laboratories, said in a Feb. 18 statement.

He added: “We have therefore developed an extended Viral Respiratory Infection Array that tests simultaneously for COVID-19 and nine other viruses. This will eliminate the need for multiple back-and-forth tests before the root cause of symptoms is found, and empower clinicians to make fast and informed decisions.”

The test is available on the Randox Evidence Investigator with a turnaround time of five hours, the company said.

The biochip tests simultaneously, from one patient sample, for the following viruses: COVID-19, coronavirus 229E/NL63, coronavirus OC43/HKUI, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, pan-coronavirus (SARS, SARS like, COVID-19), adenovirus A/B/C/D/E, enterovirus A/B/C, influenza A and B, and rhinovirus A/B.

EmPath Smart Camera makes debut at USCAP

Singularity.ai, a new company delivering integrated workflow solutions for physicians, released its first product, the EmPath Smart Camera, an AI-enabled box-top for a microscope to provide end-to-end support to aid pathologists with such tasks as cell counting and grading.

EmPath features a high-resolution smart camera that plugs into the pathologist’s existing microscopes. EmPath communicates automatically with cloud-based software to provide simultaneous AI-powered data analy­sis, as well as full case management and reporting tools.
EmPath made its debut during the USCAP meeting and will begin shipping in March.