Aalto Bio Launches Lysis Buffer Reagent for COVID-19 Testing

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 02 May 2020

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Aalto Bio Reagents Ltd. (Dublin, Ireland), a supplier of critical raw materials and reagents for diagnostic tests, has launched its first RNA lysis buffer reagent for the pre-treatment of COVID 19 samples prior to testing.

This essential RNA Lysis buffer was produced by Aalto Bio due to the unavailability of similar reagents from other manufacturers in Europe. The volume of PCR tests being carried out for COVID-19 in Ireland as well as across the world is such that manufacturers simply cannot produce the volume of reagents required. In March 2020, Aalto Bio was contacted by Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) to see if the company could refocus its manufacturing and development capabilities to provide a RNA lysis buffer which would be used by hospitals and laboratories for COVID-19 testing. Within four weeks of being contacted, the first bulk order was shipped to the National Virus Reference Laboratory in UCD where most of Ireland's testing is being carried out.

“At Aalto Bio, we were happy to assist the HSE by producing this critical reagent to help alleviate some of the pressure that has been brought on the system by COVID-19. As the HSE continues to expand on its testing capabilities we expect the demand for critical raw material such as ours to grow, and we are prepared to offer our services when needed. As a wholly-owned Irish diagnostics company we are proud to be able to contribute towards the testing regime of COVID-19,” said Philip Noone, CEO, Aalto Bio Reagents.

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