Pleasanton-based DiaCarta Develops Test to Detect Omicron Variant

Last week, the World Health Organization classified a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, the B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern and classified it the Omicron variant. To date, this variant is regarded as the most heavily mutated variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, exhibiting more than 10 mutations in the Spike protein, compared with two mutations in the Delta variant, which are employed by the virus to initiate contact with host cells. Since the identification of the Omicron variant in Botswana last week, it was subsequently detected in South Africa with confirmed cases nearing 100 and rising.

Within a week, cases have been emerging in Israel, Hong Kong and most recently in Europe. As the Omicron variant mutations are similar to those in the Delta variant, the expectation is that it will transmit rapidly across the world.

Pleasanton-based DiaCarta Inc., a precision molecular diagnostics company and developer of novel oncology tests using liquid biopsy, has developed a novel test to detect the newest COVID-19 Omicron variant, based on its proprietary XNA technology. This new test screens for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and simultaneously identifies and differentiates all the new mutating COVID 19 variants including the Alpha (UK), Beta (South Africa), Gamma (Brazil), Delta (India), Delta Plus (India), Epsilon (California) and the Kappa (India) variants as well as the recently identified Omicron variants. Having obtained CE/IVD marking, the company is commercializing this test globally.