Author Archive: AZBio

Novel coronavirus detected, monitored in wastewater

Posted on by

Within weeks of arriving on the world stage, SARS-CoV-2 has managed to encircle the globe, leaving illness, mortality and economic devastation in its vast wake. One of the central challenges facing health authorities and the medical community has been testing for the elusive virus on a sufficiently comprehensive scale.

A new approach to monitoring the novel coronavirus, (as well as other dangerous pathogens and chemical agents), is being developed and refined. Known as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), the method mines sewage samples for vital clues about human health. It can potentially identify levels of coronavirus infection at both a local and global scale.Continue reading→

Quest Diagnostics Begins to Perform COVID-19 Antibody Testing

Posted on by

SECAUCUS, N.J., April 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced that it has begun to perform antibody testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) using blood samples. With the new service, Quest Diagnostics now provides healthcare providers in the United States access to COVID-19 antibody as well as molecular diagnostic laboratory testing.  Continue reading→

GenoSensor Granted FDA Emergency Use Authorization for High Throughput COVID-19 RT-PCR Diagnostic for Use in U.S.

Posted on by

 

  • FDA Emergency Use Authorization for the GSTM COVID-19 RT-PCR KIT was issued on April 16, 2020. View FDA Letter: https://www.fda.gov/media/137090/download
  • With a high sensitivity detection (single copy detection) when run according to its instructions for use in a qualified clinical lab, the GSTM COVID-19 RT-PCR test, is one of the most sensitive tests currently available under an FDA Emergency Use Authorization.
  • GSTM COVID-19 RT-PCR KIT runs on the Applied Biosystems™ 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time PCR Instrument. Kits are available for the 96 well plate (22 clinical samples) and 384 well plate (94 clinical samples) and provides test results in less than 90 minutes.
  • The GSTM COVID-19 RT-PCR KIT is intended for use by trained clinical laboratory personnel specifically instructed and trained in the techniques of real-time PCR and in vitro diagnostic procedures. Instructions for use, the FDA EUA letter, and other documentation is provided at GenoSensorCorp.com.

Continue reading→

UArizona Launches Two-Way Texting System to Gather and Provide Critical COVID-19 Health Data

Posted on by

TUCSON, Ariz. – Designed to address a critical lack of local data as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, a University of Arizona team of researchers from UArizona Health Sciences and the Data Science Institute is launching a two-way texting system to gather and provide valuable information to track the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona and identify areas where more resources may be needed.

 

Continue reading→

Identifying Critical Infrastructure During COVID-19

Posted on by

The Department of Homeland Security the CISA guidelines on essential critical infrastructure. The guideline has been updated from:

 “Workers conducting research critical to COVID-19 response” to  “Workers, including lab personnel who perform critical biomedical research, development, and testing, needed for COVID-19 response or other diseases”.

Learn more at: https://www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19

Continue reading→

House Members Ask CMS to Expand Home Infusion Services

Posted on by

On April 13, 2020, U.S. Representatives Eliot L. Engel (NY-16) and Fred Upton (MI-06), top Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, led a bipartisan group of 181 House Members, including Arizona Representatives Andy Biggs, Ruben Gallego, Raul Grijalva, and Tom O’Halleran,  in urging the Trump Administration to temporarily allow seniors to receive lifesaving drug infusions in their homes to prevent unnecessary trips to hospitals, which could potentially expose them to COVID-19.
Continue reading→

Celebrating the Life of Jane Dee Hull, 20th Governor of the State of Arizona

Posted on by

The Honorable Jane Dee Hull, 20th Governor of the State of Arizona and her husband Dr. Terry Hull have died of natural causes.

“Through 25 years of public service, Governor Hull steered Arizona through sometimes turbulent political times, providing steady leadership and an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right and ethical. She will be remembered for her strength of conviction, grace and ability to bring people together for the long-time benefit of all Arizonans.” — Governor Douglas A. Ducey   

Continue reading→

Ortho’s Total Antibody Test for COVID-19 Receives Emergency Use Authorization from FDA

Posted on by

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced it granted Emergency Use Authorization to Ortho Clinical Diagnostics’ total antibody assay for COVID-19—the VITROS® Immunodiagnostic Products Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Total Reagent Pack and Calibrators. This test is one of the first high-throughput, automated* COVID-19 antibody tests to be granted Emergency Use Authorization.Continue reading→