As the number of types of COVID-19 Variants of Concern and of Interest increases, fast high throughput NGS sequencing is key to identify new variants while mutation specific PCR testing enables immediate detection and contact tracing. Eurofins continues to develop innovative COVID-19 testing solutions and has now reached two important milestones.
Eurofins has sequenced more than 125,000 SARS-CoV-2 samples from 23 countries since our press release on 28th December 2020 announcing the launch of a new ARTIC Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) service. Eurofins’ “ARTIC SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing” service includes NGS and detailed reporting for universal end-to-end surveillance of pandemic development, tracking the emergence and dynamics of existing and new mutational Variants of Concern. It provides customers with a fully assembled sequence of the viral ssRNA genome. This enables accurate lineage and variant identification and surveillance of emerging and spreading Variants of Concern.
Through recent investments, turnaround times for NGS sequencing have been reduced to as little as 5 days and capacity increased to 35,000 viral genomes per week since 15th May 2021. Eurofins intends to further expand its SARS-CoV-2 full genome sequencing capacity as required on all continents.
Eurofins has also reached the milestone of over 24 million COVID-19 PCR tests completed since the start of the pandemic. Accurate, fast and reliable testing is key to the monitoring and containment of SARS-CoV-2. Contrary to rapid antigen testing, which the Group is also offering, Eurofins’ most recent PCR tests enable immediate detection of most current Variants of Concern, which is essential for contact tracing as sequencing takes a few days.
Further information can be found at https://www.eurofinsgenomics.eu/en/covid-19/.
Notes to Editors:
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About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis
Eurofins is Testing for Life. Eurofins is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing and in agroscience Contract Research Organisation services. Eurofins is one of the market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and in the support of clinical studies, as well as having an emerging global presence in Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations. The Group also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.
With over 50,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of more than 800 laboratories in over 50 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of a wide range of products, as well as providing innovative clinical diagnostic testing services and in-vitro diagnostic products.
The Group’s objective is to provide its customers with high-quality services, innovative solutions and accurate results on time. Eurofins is ideally positioned to support its clients’ increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the increasing demands of regulatory authorities as well as the requirements of healthcare practitioners around the world.
In 2020, Eurofins reacted quickly to meet the global challenge of COVID-19, by creating the capacity to help over 20 million patients monthly who may have been impacted by the pandemic with our testing products and our services and directly supporting healthcare professionals working on the front line to fight the virus. The Group has established widespread PCR testing capabilities and has carried out over 24 million tests in its own laboratories, is supporting the development of a number of vaccines and has established its SAFER@WORK™ testing, monitoring and consulting programmes to help ensure safer environments during COVID-19.
Eurofins has grown very strongly since its inception and its strategy is to continue expanding its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology and analytical chemistry to offer its clients unique analytical solutions.
Shares in Eurofins Scientific are listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN FR0014000MR3, Reuters EUFI.PA, Bloomberg ERF FP).
Until it has been lawfully made public widely by Eurofins through approved distribution channels, this document contains inside information for the purpose of Regulation (EU) 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse, as amended.
Important disclaimer:
This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements and estimates contained herein represent the judgment of Eurofins Scientific’s management as of the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance, and the forward-looking events discussed in this release may not occur. Eurofins Scientific disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements and estimates. All statements and estimates are made based on the information available to the Company’s management as of the date of publication, but no guarantees can be made as to their completeness or validity.
Eurofins Central Laboratory and Eurofins Bioanalytical Services are member of Eurofins BioPharma Services, Laboratory Testing.
Eurofins BioPharma Services, Laboratory Testing is a full service global organization with dedicated testing facilities for Early Clinical Development, Central Laboratory Services, Bioanalytical Services, Virology and Immunology Testing Services, Anatomic Pathology and Genomics Services. As a division of the Eurofins Scientific Group, our sole and only focus is clinical laboratory analysis.