Member Info for B2HS2L

There is so much news due soon that the odds of another RNS tomorrow may be getting short-er than last week...

Recommend if you DON'T think so...

Symptomatic of another RNS tomorrow @07:00 do you think.
Recommend if you think so...

...Nothing to be done unless
1 confirmation that DHSC dispute has ended in NCYT favour.
2 LONG TERM Contracts announced including revenue and sales figures

bobminor -

The latin version as I remember was 'Nil Illigitimus Carborundum' .
Mental wellbeing I remember as 'Don't get mad - get even'.
I'm sure you will recall these..

India SNPsig mutation detection test confirmed launched for Research Use Only:
From table at bottom of todays RNS:

SNPsig® Assays launched:

ASSAY TYPE - SNPsig® SARS-CoV-2 (VUI-21APR) RUO

DETECTION PROFILE - VUI-21APR-01 and VUI-21APR-03 (India)

Remember the Bisto kids image, - that's us right now.

Smell that aroma!!

EXMEX, - Thanks for digging up some new and relevant UK Genomics facts.

Yes, route to lab for sequencing, for any positive PCR test performed during on site surge testing.
Further, it may be the case that the most important work of surge testing is to identify asymptomatic persons infected with the virus.
News report images point to Surge test populace being asked to take Lateral Flow tests if they do not have symptoms, and PCR tests if they do.
Difficult to know which LFT's are in use, but lets hope they have something better than Innova available to them.

Some concern about the disputed contract with DHSC.

From 09.04.2021 RNS -
"Regrettably, the parties are now in dispute regarding the contract, which may have a material impact on Q4 2020 revenues. However, the Company has taken legal advice and believes it has strong grounds to assert its contractual rights."

1 'asserting it's contractual rights'. - IMO this means the issue is covered by the contract, not outside the contract.

2 NCYT subsequently recruited Nick Plummer, General Counsel and Company Secretary at Novacyt Group in April. - Nick has plenty of relevant experience:

Consultant Solicitor - 2011 - 2013
Working in the areas of corporate and commercial law, with a particular specialism in the healthcare sector.

3 'strong grounds to assert its contractual rights' - Only one winner IMO, all DHSC can do is delay the inevitable.

4 Volatility - I would expect plenty of volatility in future, - only 71 million shares in issue guarantees volatility when news lands.

14.05.2021 - Surge testing to be deployed in Blackburn with Darwen

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/surge-testing-to-be-deployed-in-blackburn-with-darwen

"Everyone who lives, works or studies in the targeted areas is strongly encouraged to take a COVID-19 PCR test, whether they are showing symptoms or not, from Tuesday 18 May.

Enhanced contact tracing will be used for individuals testing positive with a variant of concern (VOC). This is where contact tracers look back over an extended period to determine the route of transmission.

By using PCR testing, positive results can be sent for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories, helping us to identify VOC cases and their spread."

Morning larry,

https://www.primerdesign.co.uk/search

Found all the RUO (R00130/1/2/4/5/7/46/47) product numbers for all the SNPsig test kits.

Can't find a product number that is described as identifying the Indian variant.

I was disappointed that Primerdesign does not appear to have launched the SNPsig test to identify the India variant yet, (launch was expected week commencing 26 April 2021).
However:

https://twitter.com/NovacytGroup/status/1391405651474145287

"Did you know? The B.1.617 is known as a double mutant because it contains two spike mutants; the E484Q and L452R".
++++

https://www.primerdesign.co.uk/products-hub/snpsig-sars-cov-2-voc-identification-kits

SNPsig® SARS-CoV-2 (E484K)
For the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 variants with the E484K mutation
Catalogue Number - R00132


SNPsig® SARS-CoV-2 (L452R)
For the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 variants with the L452R mutation
Catalogue Number - R00146
+++

By performing both the above tests on a single Covid-19 positive sample, the India variant can be identified when the specified mutation is present in each test.

Long way of doing it, but AFAIK it would work.

Larry - RNS dated 23.04.2021 stated
"· Expansion of SNPsig® COVID-19 PCR genotyping portfolio to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants

o Development of test to detect a variant originally identified in India, launch expected week commencing 26 April 2021.
8th Assay to the portfolio."

A number of posters including myself checked whether this variant had been launched yet, but could not confirm.
I emailed the company on Friday to enquire on this matter, but have had no response.

larry10,

Competitor products for sequencing surveillance were posted on 13 May 2021 @ 17:16 by myself.

This report states approval from EU and an FDA application.
https://inews.co.uk/news/health/british-airways-rapid-covid-19-test-trial-25-second-999153

I can see why airlines want this to work so badly compared to present regulation, but airlines will have to lobby IATA and governments to make use of this mainstream.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/british-airways-covid-test-25-seconds-travel-pelican-antigen-b934910.html

"British Airways will be the world’s first airline to trial a coronavirus test which produces results within 25 seconds.

The carrier described the test as a “game-changer”.

It will invite flight and cabin crew to take a Pelican Covid-19 antigen test from medical tech company Canary Global."

+++
According to this report, BA are to trial it with flight / cabin crew.
Entry requirements for most countries include negative PCR result within 72 hrs of departure.

honey from these hives -
https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/using-bees-to-detect-covid-19-5062868/

!

4 hours ago - from a Wolverhampton paper:

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2021/05/14/indian-coronavirus-variant-all-you-need-to-know-as-cases-continue-to-rise/

How many cases have been detected in the UK?

Coronavirus testing
Surge testing is expected to be deployed where there is evidence of community transmission (Ben Birchall/PA)
There are 1,313 confirmed cases of the B16172 variant in the UK.

The cases are spread across the country, with the majority in the North West, mainly in Bolton, Sefton in Merseyside, Blackburn in Lancashire, and London.

What is being done?

Mobile testing units have been deployed in Bolton and door-to-door PCR Covid-19 testing has been offered to 22,000 residents.

A vaccine bus has been set up to increase uptake among those who are eligible and a rapid response team of 100 nurses, public health advisers and environmental health officers has been sent in.

++

Heavy response don't you think? - Let's wish them well in their endeavours.

https://uk.vwr.com/store/product/34203632/variant-of-concern-detection-kits-snpsig

1 Confirms that VWR in USA is selling SNPsig tests.

2 Confirms shelf life is 6 months.

A check of VWR websites in the following countries confirms SNPsig kits are on sale :
Czech Rep, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, UK.

Thanks Saintsmith.

https://attogene.com/product-category/genesig-kits-by-primer-design/

Cross referring to the 23.04.2021 RNS, and the table at the bottom, the (under development) India variant is not in the list of SNPsig assays Attogene are selling (yet).

I looked at other USA distributor websites today, most were not selling SNPsig products.
I shall see if I can get an update on when this test will be available.# from the company tomorrow.

+++

I have reposted the below as it is possible many did not see this news at 00:54 this morning:

I emailed Attogene and asked
"Your website offers the Primerdesign SNPsig® VariPLEX™ (Covid-19) Real-Time PCR Assay under the Research Use Only part number, - R00137.
Could you provide an estimate when you will be offering the assay licensed for diagnostic procedures in US please?
I'm aware of the CE-IVD approved product part number D00060."

Response :
"We are unable to comment on FDA applications.
However, this kit is being used in a similar fashion as other kits in clinical settings for detecting variants from diagnosed samples.
There are no tests approved by the FDA for diagnosing variants to my knowledge."