Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company with a patented platform for the development of molecular diagnostic tests, has reported that none of the mutations in the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant recently discovered in Africa are predicted to interfere with any of the company’s suite of COVID-19 PCR assays.

The new coronavirus strain includes more than 50 mutations, over 30 of which are found on the virus’s spike protein, the main target of the body’s immune responses, and is currently being studied to determine whether the mutations lead to increased transmissibility or ability to evade the body’s immune response.

Co-Diagnostics successfully assessed the effectiveness of its existing line of COVID-19 PCR assays against the Omicron variant using publicly available sequencing data in the GISAID database, and continues to monitor the performance of its tests as new variants are discovered.

“We are pleased to report that none of the over 50 mutations in this new variant are close enough to the targets of any of our COVID-19 diagnostics to interfere with their performance,” says Dwight Egan, CEO of Co-Diagnostics. “This includes our original Logix Smart COVID-19 assay, first developed in the early days of news about the novel coronavirus being discovered in China, our SARS-CoV-2 2-gene test, our ABC (flu A/flu B/COVID-19) multiplex assay, our COVID-19 extraction-free direct saliva test, and the test currently in development to be run on our upcoming at-home/point-of-care device.”