GT Molecular, a Fort Collins, Colo.-based company known for its wastewater testing and multiplex PCR assays for cancer and pathogen epidemiology, has started shipping its sensitive PCR tests to monitor the coronavirus Delta variant (B.1.617.2). The variant was first identified in India in December of 2020 and has been designated a variant of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to extremely high transmissibility.
Since its initial detection in the United States in March of 2021, the Delta variant has spread rapidly and is now estimated to comprise the majority of all COVID-19 cases nationwide. In addition to SARS-CoV-2 variants, GT molecular now offers testing and PCR kits for the detection of Influenza A and B, empowering researchers and policymakers to accurately monitor community pathogen levels and make sound data driven decisions.
The new offerings from GT Molecular include targeted wastewater testing service and PCR kits with quantitative controls for:
- Multi-Variant Digital PCR – All-in-one kit differentiates SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon) in a single multiplex digital PCR reaction.
- Delta/Epsilon Digital PCR or RT-qPCR – Stand-alone kits differentiate SARS-CoV-2 Epsilon variant and the family of variants first identified in India (B.1.617 group), including the Delta variant.
- Influenza A/B digital PCR – Stand-alone kit detects and differentiates Influenza A and B.
- Fee-for-Service Testing – Laboratory testing service for all the above.
Additional RT-qPCR kits are available to screen for California (Epsilon, B.1.427/B.1.429), UK (Alpha, B.1.1.7), Brazil/Japan (Gamma, P.2) and South Africa (Beta, B.1.351) variants.
These new offerings add to GT Molecular’s growing molecular assay catalog that includes SARS-CoV-2 multi-variant tests, cancer panels, multiplexed pathogen panels for clinical labs, and quantitative standards.
