Roche announces no anticipated impact of Omicron variant on its tests

As new variant strains emerge, we are swiftly taking adequate steps to ensure that our tests perform as expected," mentioned its statement issued on January 6, 2022

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Mumbai: Roche Diagnostics has announced that its testing kits are capable of handling all new variants of Covid-19 virus.
“From Alpha to Delta to Omicron to the next variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, we regularly investigate the impact of mutations of SARS-CoV-2 on our assays. Based on our global surveillance team’s in silico (computer-based) analyses, the cobas® SARS-CoV-2 is predicted to detect all variants including the omicron variant (including sub-lineages BA.1 and BA.2). Also, based on our assay design, no impact of the variants including omicron is expected on the  Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and Elecsys® SARS-CoV-2 Antigen  assays. As new variant strains emerge, we are swiftly taking adequate steps to ensure that our tests perform as expected,” mentioned its statement issued on January 6, 2022.
According to Narendra Varde, Managing Director, Roche Diagnostics India & Neighbouring Markets said, “We continue to monitor the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants and remain committed to providing laboratories with high-quality molecular and serology testing solutions that aid in diagnosing affected patients. We have helped build testing infrastructure in the country through installation of very high-throughput testing instruments in several state medical and ICMR institutions. Our cobas® SARS-CoV-2 assay has been used extensively in the country during the pandemic and continues to remain reliable and useful with the emerging Omicron variant.”
Variants of Public Interest as of December 9, 2021 (including Omicron BA.1 & BA.2)
WHO Labelled
Country First Detected
cobas®  SARS-CoV-2 assay
Elecsys®  Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay
Alpha
UK
Detected
Not affected
Beta
South Africa
Detected
Not affected
Gamma
Japan/Brazil
Detected
Not affected
Delta
India
Detected
Not affected
Eta
Africa
Detected
Not affected
Iota
USA
Detected
Not affected
Lambda
Peru
Detected
Not affected
Mu
Colombia
Detected
Not affected
Omicron (BA. 1 & BA.2)
South Africa
Detected
Not affected