COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus causing the Covid-19 pandemic. It is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets or direct contact. Common signs of infection are respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
The containment of the epidemic relies mainly on the rapid identification and isolation of patients with COVID-19 in order to limit the spread of the virus. The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique is the main in vitro diagnostic test used to diagnose COVID-19. However, this method takes a few hours. This is why the development of faster methods has been essential and the availability of rapid diagnostic tests represents a major role in the fight against the pandemic.
BioSpeedia offers you different types of rapid antigen tests to quickly identify people with Covid-19. BioSpeedia also offers serological tests to help professionals determine if the patient has been in contact with the virus, by highlighting the presence of antibodies. Our tests are intended to be used quickly, close to the patient or by the patient himself (self-tests). Each protocol can be performed in minutes and is simple to implement.
All of our tests are summarized below:
COVID19-Speed Antigen Test (BSD_0503) is intended to detect a specific antigen of SARS-CoV-2 (virus responsible for Covid-19) in a nasopharyngeal swab sample. It is intended for use by healthcare professionals only.
BioSpeedia COVID19 Nasal Antigen Test (BSD_0506) and BioSpeedia® Covid-19 Nasal AG (BSD_0521) are intended to detect a specific antigen of SARS-CoV-2 (virus responsible for Covid-19) in a nasal swab sample (and nasopharyngeal for BSD_0506). They are for use by healthcare professionals only.
BioSpeedia COVID19 Nasal AUTOTEST (BSD_0507) and BioSpeedia® Autotest COVID-19 (Product Reference BSD_0520) tests are intended to detect a specific antigen of SARS-CoV-2 (virus responsible for Covid-19) in a nasal swab sample. These are self-tests, so they can be used by the patients themselves.
Covid19SEROSpeed-IgM-IgG test (BSD_0500 and BSD_0501) is intended to detect the IgM and IgG antibodies that develop in the event of infection by SARS-CoV-2 (virus responsible for Covid-19) in a blood sample (whole blood taken from the fingertip, serum or plasma). It is intended for use by healthcare professionals only. BSD_0500 is the lab version while BSD_0501 is the PoC version. This is a serological test, it helps to determine if the patient has been in contact with the virus.
Importance of Rapid Antigen Testing
In the absence of vaccine and specific treatment, the containment of the epidemics relies mainly on rapid identification and isolation of COVID-19 patients to prevent further spread of the virus.
Early diagnosis is important in this context, not only for the diagnosis and possible virological monitoring of hospitalized patients but also to ensure the health security of caregivers, first responders, and the general population. Therefore, development of point of care (POC) was recommended by WHO.
Rapid antigen-detection assays fulfil the requirement of the early detection (after infection) as the average incubation of 3-5 days is too short for development of an immune response and development of antibodies.
Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) is the main IVD assay used for COVID-19 and takes a few hours. Therefore, availability of a cost-effective, rapid POC antigen tests will play a critical role in the fight against COVID-19.