Simply Spit: Mogene Unveils New Saliva Based Covid-19 Test

New Saliva Based Covid-19 Test

MOgene, a leading provider of genomics and molecular services worldwide, announced today a new, comprehensive saliva based COVID-19 testing service to employers for the safety of their employees. Saliva based Covid-19 collection devices are easier and less painful to use as compared to the existing collection methods, the company said. Plus, the saliva collection kit utilized by MOgene, rapidly inactivates the virus within the collection tube, which makes it safer for collection by a non-health care professional.

MOgene CEO Craig Morley said: “The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on Missouri and the local Bi-State businesses, their employees, and the general population.”As we are all bracing ourselves for another wave of the virus, it is more important than ever for employers to have access to more simple, painless and accurate COVID-19 testing programs that will enable them to proactively provide an objective assessment of SARS Co-V-2 infection of their employees.”

To assist employers and to enable their employees to operate safely at their work environment, MOgene utilized its extensive experience with clinical assays and diagnostics to accurately validate their new COVID-19 test. MOgene focused on using saliva as the biological material to be tested for infectivity with the SARS Co V-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19. It is simple and easy to access instead of nasopharyngeal, nasal swabs or blood-based detection technologies.

The testing service, available now, is part of a complete return-to-work coronavirus testing support program offered by MOgene.

Covid-19 testing kits from MOgene’s purpose-built CLIA certified lab in St. Louis, MO will be sent to employers who take part in a testing programme offered by the company. The programme also comprises onsite training, employee communications support and onsite sample collection.

MOgene Lab director Kazima Saira said: “Our goal is to make it easier for employers to administer the test and get results quickly. “We expect test results will be returned within 48 hours-72 hours upon receipt of sample.”

While MOgene is focusing on employers in the St. Louis metro area, the COVID-19 test will also be available nationally to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, physician offices, and pharma companies seeking to screen patients for the coronavirus before admission into clinical trials. MOgene is also working on developing a general infectious disease respiratory test that would be made available early in 2021.

MOgene provides a full range of genomics and molecular services for academic and commercial institutions, including support for discovery under research or regulated (CLIA and GxP) environments. Additional services include integrated services for DNA and RNA extraction, genotyping, sample prep and a wide range of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and gene expression studies.

About MOgene

MOgene, a pioneer in global genomic services since 2004, provides integrated, sample-to-insight solutions for a range of customers in the pharma, biotech, clinical and industrial markets. MOgene’s purpose-built CLIA certified lab in St. Louis, MO, offers the most advanced wet lab and bioinformatics capabilities supported by experts who deliver highly customized, data-driven genomic services with industry-leading turnaround times and quality results.