Seegene wins Canadian approval for virus detection tests

Built on the novel and proprietary Seeplex molecular diagnostic platform that delivers maximum specificity, reproducibility and sensitivity, the Canadian healthcare system can now use the RV5 and RV12 diagnostic tests to further improve patient care, reduce healthcare costs and prevent inappropriate antibiotic use, the company said.

Using the Seeplex RV5 test, doctors can now simultaneously detect the most prevalent flu viruses such as influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus A/B, and screen for 11 viruses, while the RV12 test identifies 12 viruses individually.

According to the company, the license from Health Canada will bring the RV5 auto capillary electrophoresis (ACE) screening and RV12 ACE detection tests to North America for the first time.

Jong-Yoon Chun, CEO of Seegene, said: “The advantages of Seegene’s novel rapid diagnostic tests will be manifold. With these tests, the therapies targeting a specific pathogen causing the infection for a specific patient can be prescribed much earlier.

“Another benefit of the test is its ability to enable the continual monitoring of the infection status, which offers a strong potential for reducing hospital stays and freeing up scarce resources for other healthcare needs.”