Nasopharyngeal News and Research

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Novel mutation identified in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from Sweden

Researchers from Sweden and Brazil have identified a novel mutation in a strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) obtained from a patient in Stockholm, Sweden, in late April.

4 Aug 2020

Regeneron antibody cocktail shows promise as potential COVID-19 treatment

Researchers in the U.S. have shown both preventive and treatment effects of an antibody cocktail in animal models of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

4 Aug 2020

Children carry 100 times more SARS-CoV-2 virus as adults, study says

As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to wreak havoc across the globe, it has been thought that children mostly seemed to be spared by severe illness. In the majority of cases, children infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) only develop a mild illness, with some tagged as asymptomatic.

31 Jul 2020

New simple way of detecting COVID-19 in blood plasma

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic claims increasing numbers of patients, testing numbers are rising in most nations at the leading edge. However, the current reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) testing is often unavailable and takes up to several days for results to arrive.

31 Jul 2020

From swab to sequencing - scalable method for identifying SARS-CoV-2

A research group headed by Stanford University scientists has developed a scalable, high throughput method to generate high fidelity whole genome and HLA sequencing, viral genomes, and representation of human transcriptome from single nasopharyngeal swabs of coronavirus disease (COVID19) patients. Their results are published on the medRxiv preprint server.

30 Jul 2020

COVID-19 test kits offered by Carolina Liquid Chemistries granted FDA emergency use authorization

Carolina Liquid Chemistries, Corp., an innovative leader in clinical diagnostics and drug screening, is now offering test kits for COVID-19 that have been granted Emergency Use Authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration, pursuant to Section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

From Carolina Liquid Chemistries Corp. 29 Jul 2020

Inconsistent SARS-CoV-2 antibody results in nephrology workers

Using a broad spectrum of antibody tests the present study revealed inconsistent results for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among asymptomatic individuals, while this was not the case among Covid-19 patients.

29 Jul 2020

Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 positives not infectious in discharged COVID-19 patients, says Chinese study

A new research paper from China published on the preprint server medRxiv* claims that recurrent positive results for SARS-CoV-2 are due to the presence of low levels of viral RNA fragments and not the shedding of infectious virus particles.

29 Jul 2020

Moderna coronavirus vaccine candidate moves to phase 3 with 30,000 participants

The world’s most significant coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine study is underway in the United States, with a planned 30,000 volunteers. The phase 3 clinical trial aims to examine the efficacy and safety of the candidate vaccine developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc.

28 Jul 2020

Brigham to play two key roles in phase 3 trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate

A vaccine candidate for preventing COVID-19 is advancing to a 30,000-participant phase 3 trial that begins today, and Brigham and Women's Hospital will play two key roles in the trial's next phase.

27 Jul 2020

Alternative amplification technique could accelerate COVID-19 testing

An alternative amplification technique to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA could offer a way to rapidly test large numbers of people for COVID-19, although the technique is not as sensitive as quantitative RT-PCR, the current standard method for COVID-19 testing.

27 Jul 2020

Sputum testing detects COVID-19 virus at higher rates than other methods

Early and accurate detection is critical for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and providing appropriate care for patients.

24 Jul 2020

Pets show antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in Italian study

A study shows that reverse transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is probable, with 3-4% of pets showing antibodies to the infection, though no virus was recovered.

24 Jul 2020

Clinical trial evaluates rapid PCR testing for COVID-19 in London care homes

In a UK-first, Queen Mary University of London is leading a clinical trial of a new rapid COVID-19 testing system that delivers results in under an hour.

22 Jul 2020

Avacta provides update on clinical validation of Adeptrix COVID-19 diagnostic test

Avacta is pleased to announce that it has begun work with the UK government’s CONDOR program to evaluate and clinically validate the COVID-19 laboratory assay.

22 Jul 2020

Avacta provides update on clinical validation of Adeptrix COVID-19 diagnostic test

Avacta is pleased to announce that it has begun work with the UK government’s CONDOR program to evaluate and clinically validate the COVID-19 laboratory assay.

22 Jul 2020

Eosinophil count can aid in early detection of COVID-19 in patients

A rapid laboratory test, the eosinophil count, readily obtained from a routine complete blood cell count (CBC) can aid in the early recognition of COVID-19 in patients, as well as provide prognostic information, according to new research in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.

16 Jul 2020

Viral load peaks in early stages of COVID-19 disease, shows study

In a retrospective study, investigators from New York University Langone Health found that the quantity of SARS-CoV-2 (viral load) collected from patients in the emergency department is significantly higher in patients with fewer or milder symptoms who did not require hospitalization--the opposite of what might be expected.

15 Jul 2020

Saliva promising alternative to upper airway swabs for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2

The standard diagnostic test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Now, a new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* in July 2020 describes the use of saliva as a sample in RT-PCR for diagnosis in place of nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs.

14 Jul 2020

Current assays reflect non-neutralizing antibodies, finds study

Several serologic tests have been developed to help diagnose the presence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), either currently or in the past. However, all of them are not equally effective.

14 Jul 2020