A new molecular test to identify the Covid-19 coronavirus faster: 60 minutes versus the 5-7 hours currently needed. The project is by the Italian company Diasorin, which announces that it has completed the studies necessary to obtain approval in the EU and the United States. The analyzes were conducted at the Spallanzani Hospital in Rome and at the San Matteo Polyclinic in Pavia.
Diasorin – the Italian multinational of in vitro diagnostics – announces that the test will be sold with the CE mark in Europe. Overseas, however, by the end of March 2020 it will be presented at the Food and Drug Administration of the United States to obtain theEmergency Use Authorization.
In the wake of the news, Tuesday Diasorin's share on the Stock Exchange it snatches upwards by more than 14%, to 115,30 euros, posting the best rise of the Ftse Mib by detachment. In the same minutes, the main stock exchange on Piazza Affari gains 3,24%, an all in all limited rebound compared to the catastrophic loss on Monday (-12%).
The new test is made possible by the Mdx technology, originally developed to provide rapid diagnostic responses for both military and civilian use. Today Diasorin has installed over 800 LIAISON® MDX analyzers in large hospitals in the US and EU to diagnose seasonal flu, as well as many other viral and bacterial infections. The benefits, according to the company, are articulated on two fronts: first times, because it is essential to quickly assess whether patients should be hospitalized or not; moreover, the Mdx technology could help decentralize testing for coronavirus diagnosisthus making the management of potentially infectious patients more efficient.
“We took action as soon as the information on the genetic sequence of the virus was made public - explains Giulia Minnucci, R&D Director Europe at Diasorin - collaborating with the Italian and US Reference Centers to develop fast and accurate molecular tests to deal with this health emergency. We have analyzed over 150 viral sequences published today in the global database of gene banks and designed a test intended to detect all currently known variants of the Coronavirus Covid-19".
