• Enhance viral load measurement for SARS-CoV-2 using digital droplet PCR
• Enable whole-genome sequencing in NGS of the SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses

Cerba Research announces today that it has developed two new COVID-19 exploratory tools to enhance clinical research for the development of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Developed by scientists at Cerba Healthcare on nasopharyngeal ongoing patient samples, these tools are available and efficient on clinical specimens. Furthermore, this whole-genome sequencing in NGS assay is available for other viruses responsible for respiratory diseases like influenza viruses.

The developments reinforce Cerba Healthcare and Cerba Research’s scientific commitment to the continued fight against the pandemic. Cerba Research recently announced its In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) division supported The French Public Health Agency (Santé Publique France) in a prospective COVID-19 seroprevalence study now identified as a major partner for epidemiological studies with the French Government.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, Cerba Healthcare has been at the forefront of fighting against COVID-19 with all stakeholders, including patients, healthcare professionals, governments, IVD professionals, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies developing vaccines and treatments. Our new COVID-19 exploratory tools help our clinical research customers develop more tailored and effective treatments,” said Jérôme Sallette, chief scientific officer at Cerba Research.

Viral load measurement for SARS-CoV-2 using digital droplet PCR

• Use in treatment and vaccine trials
• An innovative method enabling SARS CoV-2 absolute quantification
• Increased sensitivity and precision as compared to qPCR assays, especially in low viral abundance samples
• Follow-up of patients with low viral load
• Accurate assessment in viral load variation
• Performed in an ISO15189 accredited lab

Whole-genome sequencing in NGS of the SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses

• Use in treatment and vaccine trials
• Viral determination and subtyping (SARS CoV-2, influenza, RSV, adenovirus, pneumovirus, rhinovirus)
• Detection of virus mutations
• Assessment of viral heterogeneity and quasispecies
• Precise detection of co-infections (e.g., influenza subtype)
• Documentation of proven reinfections
• Can be combined to host genetics to address individual genetic susceptibility to infection, level of the immune response, or severity prognosis factors