CAP TODAY Pathology/Laboratory Medicine/Laboratory Management
March 2021—Thermo Fisher Scientific announced the availability of a direct from saliva PCR test for COVID-19 to enable widespread, high-frequency surveillance testing. The Applied Biosystems TaqCheck SARS-CoV-2 Fast PCR Assay Kit is a multiplexed RT-PCR assay for the qualitative detection and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (S and N genes) plus a human RNAse P assay to help assess sample adequacy. The assays are designed to work with raw saliva from research samples.
The company also introduced the Safe Campus Reopening program to subsidize the cost of the test for U.S. colleges, universities, and post-secondary institutions. Availability of this program coincides with recent guidance issued by the CDC that calls for expanded COVID-19 surveillance using PCR-based tests with turnaround times within 24 to 48 hours.