Thermo Fisher Scientific Launches Customizable TaqMan COVID-19 Mutation Panel

Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched its Applied Biosystems TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel, a customizable menu of 22 verified real-time PCR assays for identification of COVID-19 mutations.

The assays enable surveillance of variants that are causing COVID-19 infections in specific regions globally and allow laboratories to choose which mutations to track.

“With an evolving virus, having up to date, reliable and accurate information is critical in fighting back,” said Mark Smedley, president of the genetic sciences business of Thermo Fisher Scientific. “With this panel, we’re empowering researchers and clinicians by putting another tool in their hands to monitor changes in the virus so they can make informed and effective decisions for overall public health.”
 
SARS-CoV-2 has mutated countless times, with some variants potentially impacting efficacy of treatments and vaccines, stressing the importance of continued surveillance of viral changes. The TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel is designed to be highly scalable, being able to run a few or hundreds of samples to identify one or many mutations. This provides laboratories with the ability to meet various levels of testing need with real-time PCR instruments they already use.
 
The TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel provides results in about an hour and is based on gold standard TaqMan SNP genotyping assay technology, which can help to detect and distinguish mutations efficiently.
 
TaqMan is for research use, according to the company. It is not to be used in diagnostic procedures.