Roche Creates PCR Tests That Can Single Out Omicron Variant
Roche Starts Making PCR Tests That Can Detect Omicron Variant
(Bloomberg) -- Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG has developed PCR tests that can single out infections with the omicron variant of Covid-19, which would help countries monitor the spread of the new strain.
Roche said Friday its recently acquired TIB Molbiol unit is introducing three such tests for research use only.
The Swiss drugmaker concluded its purchase of TIB Molbiol on Wednesday, for an undisclosed price. The Berlin-based company came up with a PCR test for Covid in January 2020, within weeks of the first reported cases of the disease.
The omicron variant of Covid-19, first identified in South Africa, has now been detected in countries from the U.S. to South Korea.
Roche also said it checked its existing diagnostics for the coronavirus, and all of them can detect Covid when a patient has the omicron variant.
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