Pharmaceutical firm Roche develops COVID-19 antibodies detection test

Pharmaceutical firm Roche said it has developed and would soon launch its test detecting antibodies in people exposed to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19.

The Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology test can support priority screening of high-risk groups, such as healthcare workers and food supply workers who might already have developed a certain level of immunity and can continue serving and/or return to work.

The Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay is an in vitro test that uses human serum and plasma drawn from a blood sample to detect antibodies and determine the body’s immune reaction to SARS-CoV-2.

Antibody testing is central to help identify people who have been infected by the virus, particularly those who may have been infected but did not display symptoms.

“Roche is deeply committed to supporting the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Roche Diagnostics CEO Thomas Schinecker said. “Timely availability and fast access to reliable, high quality tests are essential for healthcare systems. The antibody test is an important next step in the fight against COVID-19. Roche’s antibody test can be quickly scaled and made broadly available around the world as our instrument infrastructure is already in place.”

Roche Group CEO Severin Schwan said, following the firm’s launch of its high-volume PCR test in mid-March to detect active infection of the disease, the new antibody test will be launched in early May.

“Every reliable test on the market serves its purpose for healthcare systems to help us overcome this pandemic,” he said. “Roche is collaborating closely with health authorities and ramping up production to ensure fast availability of the test globally.”