Genetic molecular diagnostics company Avellino Lab USA launched a multi-panel RT-PCR-based virus assay that accurately detects four viral infections in one patient sample: COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A, and influenza B.

The AvellinoCoV2 – Respiratory Test has 100% sensitivity for RSV and influenza A and B, 100% accuracy for influenza A and B, and is more than 99% accurate in its detection of RSV. For the COVID-19 panel, by analyzing the N gene that is minimally affected by viral mutation, the test accurately detects the presence of COVID variants. The laboratory developed test meets all applicable CLIA requirements for high complexity testing. It also has the ability to detect “flurona”

RSV is a respiratory virus that mostly affects the very young, older adults and immunocompromised individuals and is spread via droplets that travel through the air. There are approximately 58,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths among individuals 65 in older due to RSV annually in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We are in an unprecedented cold and flu season, with COVID-19, RSV and the emerging flurona infections as continued health hazards,” says Avellino Chief Scientific Officer Nazneen Aziz, PhD. “The expanded AvellinoCoV2 – Respiratory Test supports the CDC’s notice last June to expand RSV testing, as well as the physician need to test for both COVID-19 and influenza, which is now even more important with the emergence of flurona. With accurate and early diagnosis medical care professionals can make appropriate patient management decisions and better utilize medical resources.”

The company also distributes a rapid antigen COVID-19 test that can detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and an antibody test kit that can detect the presence of antibodies to the S protein of the virus acquired through vaccinations or past infections from SARS-CoV-2. In addition, Avellino conducts surveillance of the different variants circulating in the community via whole genome sequencing of positive samples in its database. Variants of concern and variants of interest are reported to the appropriate federal and California state health agencies.

Test samples are collected via a mid-turbinate nasal swab and sent to Avellino’s high-complexity CLIA certified laboratory for analysis. Located in Menlo Park, the laboratory operates everyday, has processed nearly 3 million of its COVID-19 tests to date, and can process up to 30,000 tests a day.

To learn more about Avellino, visit www.avellino.com.

Photo: Avellino