Coronaviruses are enveloped, single-strand RNA viruses known to cause respiratory illness in humans. In December 2019 a new coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China and this is now named SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), with the resulting illness known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The virus has spread rapidly and on March 11 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was declared a pandemic.

Coronaviruses contain at least 4 structural proteins:

• Spike (S) protein
• Envelope (E) protein
• Membrane (M) protein
• Nucleocapsid (N) protein

COVID-19 is an emerging infection and there is still much to learn about the viral kinetics and antibody response. An increasing number of different tests are now available to detect the virus in human samples and to measure the antibody response to the individual viral proteins. The information these tests provide is essential to monitor and control the infection, and the development of effective therapeutic treatment and vaccines.

• SARS-CoV-2 Virus detection
• SARS-CoV-2 Antibody detection and quantitation
• SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Recombinant Proteins
• Cytokines and other relevant biomarkers

SARS-CoV-2 Virus Detection

Virus detection in the laboratory is performed on nasopharyngeal and throat swabs using molecular PCR tests. PCR is the most sensitive method for detecting the virus early in the infection, sometimes before the onset of symptoms, and requires the use of specialised analysers in a laboratory, often taking several hours to run the test.

The SD Biosensor COVID-19 Ag kits are designed for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen in nasopharyngeal and throat swabs.

These kits are for professional use and are intended as a screening test to aid in the early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with clinical symptoms. Positive results should be considered in conjunction with the clinical history and other data available to the clinician.

SD Biosensor Standard Q COVID-19 Ag is a lateral flow device that can be read by eye.

• Rapid results in 30 minutes
• CE marked
• Ready-to-use and room temperature storage
• No additional equipment or reagents necessary

SD Biosensor Standard F COVID-19 Ag FIA is a rapid fluorescent immunoassay for use with the Standard F analysers.

• Rapid results in 30 minutes
• CE marked
• Ready-to-use and room temperature storage
• Automatic reading and analysis of results on F200 or F2400 analyser
• Data management via LIS/HIS connectivity

SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection and Quantification

The detection of antibodies to SARS-Cov-2 in whole blood, serum or plasma samples is an indication of previous infection with the virus. As information about the antibody response to this virus increases, the clinical utility of laboratory and point of care tests will become clearer.

Serological testing is a useful tool in the surveillance of the infection and in determining the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic. It may also be helpful for the diagnosis of patients with a negative PCR result or for the identification of patients that have had asymptomatic infections.

Oxford Biosystems has 3 kits available for point of care antibody detection in whole blood from a finger-prick sample. These kits are not designed for home use and are available for professional use only in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The results should be interpreted in conjunction with the clinical history of the individual, any previous exposure to the infection and the onset of any relevant symptoms. It has been shown that seroconversion rates are variable and it is recommended that samples for antibody detection are collected at least 2-3 weeks after onset of symptoms.

SD Biosensor Standard Q COVID-19 IgM/IgG Combo

SD Biosensor Standard F COVID-19 IgM/IgG Combo FIA

The investigation of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in a laboratory setting may involve the measurement of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies, as well as the specific targets of these antibodies.

Coronaviruses contain at least 4 structural proteins:

• Spike (S) protein
• Envelope (E) protein
• Membrane (M) protein
• Nucleocapsid (N) protein

The investigation may include specific antibody quantification to more than one target protein.

Oxford Biosystems is working with several manufacturers to provide a range of products that cover a variety of options.

TestLine Clinical Diagnostics, a Czech company and part of the BioVendor Group, has developed a range of ELISA kits for the determination of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in human serum or plasma. These kits are also available as SmartEIA kits, specifically designed for automated analysis using the Dynex Agility ELISA instrument.

For further information please contact us directly or visit the TestLine website

SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Recombinant Proteins

A range of Coronavirus antigens are available, including recombinant proteins for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), SARS and MERS CoV. These antigens are suitable for use in assay development, vaccine research and as antigens for the preparation of Coronavirus-specific antibodies.

• Biovendor Proteins

We offer monoclonal antibodies that are specific to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) proteins, including SARS-CoV Nucleoprotein, Spike and Matrix proteins, SARS-CoV-2 Spike S2 glycoprotein and MERS-CoV Spike S1 glycoprotein.

• Biovendor Antibodies

Cytokines and other relevant biomarkers

The Quansys Q-Plex™ Array technology is a fully quantitative multiplex ELISA capable of measuring up to 25 distinct analytes per well. Their standard product range includes kits with up to 16 cytokines detectable and individually quantified per well. Customised kits are also available to meet specific customer requirements.

Multiplex ELISA arrays maximise data generation from each sample and provide a low cost per data point.

Oxford Biosystems offers and extensive range of ELISA kits for the detection and quantification of individual cytokines and other biomarkers that may be of interest to researchers investigating SARS-CoV-2 infection. Please contact us to discuss your requirements or use our search engine to look for a specific product.