Being able to detect cancers early can substantially improve survival, but most early detection tests for cancer rely on expensive and sophisticated molecular techniques that might be difficult to implement in resource strapped environments. Two new studies published last week attempt to overcome this problem.
LONDON – Researchers at Birmingham University are looking for commercialization partners after finding a happy medium between the speed but limited accuracy of COVID-19 lateral flow antigen tests, and the use of slower but more accurate PCR and other RNA amplification diagnostics.
New England Biolabs Inc. (NEB) has launched its research use only product that can be utilized for the detection of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 RNA. It is intended to serve as an alternative to RT-qPCR, enabling visual detection of amplification of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in half an hour.
