29 Mar 2021 16:00
Yourgene Health plc
("Yourgene" or the "Group" or the "Company")
COVID-19 update
Approved provider of day two and day eight coronavirus testing for international arrivals, for both PCR and sequencing
Manchester, UK - 29 March 2021: Yourgene (AIM: YGEN), the international molecular diagnostics group, announces that Yourgene Genomic Services COVID-19 testing services have been approved by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Yourgene has been added to the UK Government's approved list as a private provider of day two and day eight coronavirus testing for all international arrivals1 for both SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing and SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing testing services.
It was made mandatory from 15 February 2021 that international arrivals are required to self-isolate for 10 days on return to the UK and take a PCR test on day two and day eight of the passenger's quarantine period. If the test result is positive and meets the DHSC sequencing criteria, it requires sequencing in a lab for surveillance purposes to monitor Variants of Concern and Variants Under Investigation, with sequencing results reported directly back to Public Health England. Yourgene will provide the routine Clarigene SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing services and a new sequencing test being performed from Yourgene Genomic Services using ThermoFisher's Ion AmpliSeq™ SARS‑CoV‑2 Research Panel.
Yourgene Genomic Services can provide this COVID-19 testing service as it meets the DHSC's 15 minimum standards2 and has been reviewed by UKAS, a national accreditation body recognised by the UK Government to assess against international agreed standards. As an experienced sequencing test laboratory, Yourgene will be able to offer the additional service now required by the UK Government to the Group's range of COVID-19 testing partners.
This follows on from the Company receiving confirmation that it had been added to the UK Government's approved COVID-19 private testing list for the 'Test to Release for International Travel' scheme introduced on 15 December 2020 ("Test to Release"), and also for general coronavirus testing which was also announced in December 2020.
Lyn Rees, CEO of Yourgene commented: "Receiving approval to be added to the Government's COVID-19 private provider list, for both PCR testing and our sequencing service, illustrates the high standard and service levels Yourgene has been providing under our Genomics Services offering. We are extremely pleased to be at the forefront of this development as travel begins to open up."
1 - Providers of day 2 and day 8 coronavirus testing for international arrivals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
2 - Minimum standards for private-sector providers of COVID-19 testing for 'Test to Release for international travel' - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the Directors of the Company are responsible for the release of this announcement.
Yourgene Health plc Lyn Rees, Chief Executive Officer | Tel: +44 (0)161 669 8122 investors@yourgene-health.com | ||
Barry Hextall, Chief Financial Officer |
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Joanne Cross, Director of Marketing |
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Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (NOMAD) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7213 0880 | ||
Liam Murray / James Caithie / Ludovico Lazzaretti |
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N+1 Singer (Joint Corporate Broker) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000 | ||
Aubrey Powell / Tom Salvesen / George Tzimas |
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Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Joint Corporate Broker) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7710 7600 | ||
Nicholas Moore / Matthew Blawat / Ben Maddison |
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Walbrook PR Ltd (Media and Investor Relations) | Tel: +44 (0)20 7933 8780 or yourgene@walbrookpr.com | ||
Paul McManus / Lianne Cawthorne | Mob: 07980 541 893 / Mob: 07584 391 303 | ||
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About Yourgene Health
Yourgene Health is an international molecular diagnostics group which develops and commercialises genetic products and services. The group works in partnership with global leaders in DNA technology to advance diagnostic science.
Yourgene primarily develops, manufactures, and commercialises simple and accurate molecular diagnostic solutions, for reproductive health, precision medicine and now infectious diseases. The Group's flagship products include non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) for Down's Syndrome and other genetic disorders, Cystic Fibrosis screening tests, invasive rapid aneuploidy tests, and a recent extension into the oncology space with DPYD genotyping.
The launch of Yourgene Genomic Services has enabled Yourgene to offer a global laboratory service network equipped to be a full life-cycle partner for clinical, research and pharmaceutical organisations to support partners at the preclinical, clinical, and post-market stages to develop, manufacture, obtain regulatory approval and commercialise new products and services. In addition, Yourgene Genomic Services offers an NIPT and high throughput COVID testing service.
In August 2020, Yourgene acquired Coastal Genomics, Inc., a sample preparation technology company based in Vancouver, Canada, enabling the Company to extend its offering and IP portfolio in the DNA sample preparation sector. The acquisition increased Yourgene's geographical penetration into the US and Canada, supplementing existing coverage in the UK, Europe, MEA and Asia.
Yourgene Health is headquartered in Manchester, UK with offices in Taipei, Singapore, the US and Canada, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market under the ticker "YGEN". For more information visit www.yourgene-health.com and follow us on twitter @Yourgene_Health.