The state of COVID-19 infections has been in constant flux, with mutant strains of the virus continuing to emerge; amid this situation, FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation develops and supplies PCR test reagents for research use and other products on short cycles, meeting the needs at hand in this ever-changing environment.
Enabling quick and accurate saliva PCR tests
Traditional PCR tests mainly use samples of mucus from the subject’s nose or throat.
However, insertion of swabs deep into the sinuses causes physical strain on the subject and can put the sample-taker at risk of infection if the subject sneezes or coughs.
To address this, FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical developed the SARS-CoV-2 Lysis Buffer, a pretreatment reagent that can quickly detect RNA from viruses by only adding the subject’s saliva.
Furthermore, its SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR Detection Kit Ver. 2 (for research use only) prevents false negatives*1 caused by the degradation of viral genes in samples, and enables easy, rapid and highly accurate PCR testing.
- *1 Instances where an infected subject receives a negative test result
SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR Detection Kit Ver.2
Providing reagents identifying mutant strains
COVID-19 is repeatedly mutating as it spreads throughout the world, altering its pathogenic properties, infectivity and other qualities.
In order to identify infection vectors and contain the virus, it is important that PCR tests be able to ascertain the state of infection, including which mutant strain a subject has.
FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical is continuing to support the fight against these mutant strains by developing and providing a number of kits capable of identifying each of them: the N501Y Mutation Detection Kit for the alpha strain, the E484K Mutation Detection Kit for the beta and gamma strains, and the L452R Mutation Detection Kit and E484Q Mutation Detection Kit for the delta strain (all for research use only).
Detection of mutated variants
(+: Positive, –: Negative)
Supporting COVID-19 epidemiological studies with PCR tests
People who are deficient in the Alpha-1-antitrypsin protein (AAT) in the blood due to genetic mutation may be more likely to suffer severe symptoms of COVID-19 infection*2.
Using PCR testing to determine possible AAT gene mutation can be useful in epidemiological studies of COVID-19, but it generally takes time to obtain test results.
FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical used its unique design methods to create the α1-Antitrypsin Gene Mutation (PiS, PiZ) Detection Kit (for research use only), offering an easy and highly accurate way to detect gene mutations. This kit helps provide clarity to the state of COVID-19 infections.
- *2 The carrier rate of this mutation is said to be high in Western countries.
α1-Antitrypsin Gene Mutation (PiS, PiZ) Detection Kit
- * This page has the same contents as Sustainability Report 2021.