A new, potentially highly transmissible variant of SARS-CoV-2 discovered in the Southern Africa, B.1.1.529 (or Omicron) has public health organizations and governments on alert. B.1.1.529 is the most divergent variant identified in significant numbers, with over 30 mutations across the S-gene, which raises concerns for disease control and prevention.
Due to concerns around a detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology, the WHO designated B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern on November 26, 2021. Health officials indicate that more information is needed to understand if Omicron is more transmissible or severe than other variants, including Delta.
The WHO and European Centers for Disease Control have both reported that using S-gene target failure (SGTF) of the PCR assays as a proxy for the variant helped to identify Omicron.
Aehealth has launched the PCR Kit to detect the loss of S gene to to help differentiate the Omicron variant from other Covid-19 variants. The 2019-nCoV Omicron Variant PCR Kit has high sensitivity (200copies/mL) ,UDG enzyme is added to the reagent to prevent the PCR reaction carryover contamination.
Post time: Dec-24-2021