Roche and TIB Molbiol, a newly acquired subsidiary within the Roche Diagnostics division, have added three additional Research Use Only (RUO) test kits for the detection of mutations present in the novel B.1.1.529 Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: VirSNip SARS Spike ins214EPE (RUO), VirSNiP SARS-CoV-2 Spike S371L S373P (RUO), VirSNip SARS Spike E484A (RUO). The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 variant, Omicron (B.1.1.529), as a COVID-19 variant of concern (VOC).

The VirSNiP variant kits allow differentiation between unique mutations present within the Omicron variant compared to other SARS-CoV-2 variants and are for use on LightCycler and cobas z 480 analysers. Using a technology called qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) they can help researchers with improved variant detection and viral research and are among the first to address the number of unique mutations of the Omicron variant.

“The Covid-19 pandemic continues to be an evolving and complex situation, and Roche is committed to responding to healthcare’s biggest challenges. The teams at TIB Molbiol have worked around the clock since the new variant emerged, and today we can offer a test that can specifically identify the novel B.1.1.529 Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant to help better understand its spread and behaviour,” said Thomas Schinecker, CEO Roche Diagnostics. “There is still much to learn about Omicron. It's critical to identify Omicron quickly and accurately, which will help inform ongoing research - including the further development of therapeutics and vaccines - and potentially stop or slow down the advance of this new variant.”