BD, CerTest Biotec Partner on Monkeypox Test

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) and CerTest Biotec began a collaboration to create a molecular diagnostic test for the Monkeypox virus.
 
The resultant assay will leverage the BD MAX open system reagent suite to validate the CerTest VIASURE Monkeypox CE/IVD test. The assay will be available for BD MAX users.
 
It may also help to progress the understanding of the disease’s global spread.
 
“Enabling labs to rapidly respond to unexpected challenges is the kind of evolving health care situations for which the BD MAX open system reagent suite is designed,” Nikos Pavlidis, VP of molecular diagnostics at BD told the press. “Through our collaboration with CerTest and their ability to rapidly transfer assays on the BD MAX System, we will enable BD MAX System users around the world to access a test for the confirmation of monkeypox.”
 
BD MAX is an integrated, automated platform that performs nucleic acid extraction and real-time PCR, providing results for up to 24 samples across multiple syndromes in under three hours.
 
Nelson Fernandes, managing director of CerTest BioTec, added “The strong capabilities of our teams to rapidly develop molecular assays as well our experience working with the BD MAX System enables us to accelerate the development of an assay and further build our collaboration with BD.”
 
The Monkeypox PCR Detection Kit for BD MAX will be offered in a lyophilized format, coming in a tube that snaps into the test-specific position.