Gold Standard Diagnostics, a Eurofins Technologies Company, Announces a PCR Assay for the Detection of the Monkeypox and Orthopox Virus

Gold Standard Diagnostics Europe continues its response to the threat of emerging infectious diseases by developing a new multiplex Real-time PCR assay for the detection of the monkeypox virus and its differentiation from other orthopox viruses.

The monkeypox virus has raised significant concerns given its recent spread, with more than 2500 confirmed cases in 37 countries [1]. These cases are especially unusual as they have not occurred among travelers returning from the tropical rainforest regions of Central and West Africa, the common circulation area for the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an alert level 2 for the monkeypox virus.

With the current uncertainty surrounding the clinical implications of the monkeypox virus, it is crucial to closely monitor its spread and provide reliable diagnostic solutions for its identification. This virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, which encompasses pathogenic viruses like smallpox (Variola virus; eradicated), cowpox or buffalopox, which exhibit similar symptoms in infected patients.

The Mplex Monkeypox, Orthopox Real-time PCR assay uses a generic target for orthopox viruses and a specific target for monkeypox and will be available for research use only from the beginning of July. This product complements Gold Standard Diagnostics Europe’s suite of assays developed in response to infectious diseases, such as the GSD NovaPrime and NovaType assay families, developed for SARS-CoV-2 detection and variant identification.

Reference [1] https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/world-map.html

For more information, please visit Eurofins Technologies website.

About Eurofins Technologies – a fast growing provider of diagnostic technologies in the field of immunoassays and molecular detection methods

Building on the experience and scientific excellence of the Eurofins Group, Eurofins Technologies is a fast-growing global provider of diagnostic technologies and industry-leading ELISA-based instruments in the field of bioanalytical testing for the food, feed, environmental, animal health, and clinical diagnostics industries.

About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis

Eurofins is Testing for Life. With 58,000 staff across a network of 900 laboratories in 54 countries, Eurofins’ companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods.

Eurofins Shares are listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange.

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For further information: Rodrigo Berlie [e-mail]