With the rapid transmission rate of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), there is an urgent need for rapid technology to identify the virus before it is allowed to spread anymore. The Singapore-based molecular diagnostics manufacturer Veredus Laboratories have announced the commercial availability of their portable Lab-on-Chip diagnostic tool for the detection and differentiation 2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. 

The VereCoV™ Detection Kit is based on VereChip™ technology; integrating both PCR and microarray technology, giving high specificity, sensitivity and 2-hour turnaround time to result. 

Due to gene mutations arising from error-prone polymerases within our cells, the VereCoV Detection Kit's multiplexing assay has been developed to give extensive genetic coverage to detect and differentiate all of these coronaviruses. The target regions for VereCoV Detection Kit include the open reading frame (ORF), Spike protein and Nuceloprotein of Covid-19. 

Veredus has responded with similar technology in the past, notably their VereFlu™ Influenza A/B Detection Kit and VereMERS™ Detection Kit to include the then newly emergent pandemic strain  H1N1/2009 and MERS-CoV within the first few weeks from time of the first outbreak. 

"Currently, Veredus is working with Health Science Authority (HSA) of Singapore on the certification of In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD) for VereCoV Detection Kit, and we are expecting this to be completed within this week.  Otherwise, this kit is intended for Research Use Only (RUO) outside Singapore, unless otherwise stated", commented a spokesperson for Veredus.