Gastroenterology Today Autumn 2020

COMPANY NEWS
BIOHIT SUPPLIES COVID-19
DETECTION KITS IN THE UK
BIOHIT Healthcare Ltd is now distributing test kits for the
diagnosis of both current and past COVID-19 infections to
help in the fight against coronavirus in the UK. The new
product line includes the MutaPLEX ® Coronavirus kit from
Immundiagnostik AG (IDK) – a real-time RT-PCR assay to
screen for infected individuals – and Epitope Diagnostics Inc’s
(EDI’s) immunodiagnostic tests for IgM and IgG COVID-19
antibodies, to detect past infections.
The IDK MutaPLEX coronavirus screening assay allows the detection of
SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in a variety of biological specimens, especially nasal/
throat swabs. This real time RT-PCR kit contains all the reagents, primers
and dual-labelled probes required for the amplification and simultaneous
differentiation of RNA from SARS-CoV-2 and other betacoronaviruses, as
well as house-keeping genes designed to prevent false negative results
due to insufficient sample collection or transport problems.
EDI’s Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 ELISA kits provide qualitative detection
of antibodies in patient serum, indicating a past COVID-19 infection. The
IgM assay provides the earliest immunodiagnostic indication of an infection,
while the IgG test can be used to aid detection and provide an indication
of long-term immunological response, making it particularly useful in cases
where clustering is suspected or differential diagnosis is required.
These tests extend and complement BIOHIT’s repertoire of diagnostic kits
for gastroenterology, aiding the evaluation of patients with both GI and
upper respiratory complaints, as COVID-19 may include stomach and
bowel symptoms in some cases. Inflammatory bowel disease patients
being treated with immunosuppressive agents should also be considered
at high risk for COVID-19, making differential diagnosis essential.
Graham Johnson, Managing Director of BIOHIT Healthcare Ltd,
commented: “Access to diagnostic testing is vital to coordinate an
effective response to this global pandemic. By distributing these kits,
we hope to streamline and simplify the UK supply chain, allowing more
people to be tested sooner. This is just one piece of the puzzle, but it is
important that we all do our small part in protecting both individuals and
the NHS and, ultimately, saving lives.”
About BIOHIT Healthcare Ltd
BIOHIT Healthcare Ltd (www.biohithealthcare.co.uk) is part of
the Finnish public company, BIOHIT OYJ, which specialises in the
development, manufacture and marketing of products and analysis
systems for the early diagnosis and prevention of gastrointestinal
diseases. The company’s many unique and patented diagnostic
tests transform clinical practice and make screening, diagnosis and
monitoring of gastrointestinal diseases efficient and cost effective.
Non-invasive diagnostics are at the core of BIOHIT’s offering, making
it the provider of choice for leading gastroenterologists and laboratory
scientists worldwide.
POSTER SUBMISSIONS
GASTROENTEROLOGY TODAY - AUTUMN 2020
22
If you have submitted a poster to previous BSG or
ENDOLIVE events and would like it published in
Gastroenterology Today please forward a PDF of your
poster to the email address listed below.
Material submitted will be seen by those working within all
UK gastroenterology departments and endoscopy units.
All submissions should be forwarded to info@mediapublishingcompany.com
If you have any queries please contact the publisher Terry Gardner via:
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