Eureka Labs says capable of testing for and detecting new COVID variants

The Eureka Medical Laboratories (EML), on Monday, said it is capable of testing for and detecting new strains of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) which have been seen in different parts of the world.

“In Guyana, we at Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc. wish to reiterate our commitment to meeting the diagnostic challenges that identifying these variants may pose. We would like to reassure our valued customers and partners that the assays we are currently using to detect SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) are capable of successfully identifying persons with either the common strain of the virus or its mutated variants,” EML said noting that it will remain vigilant and proactive to ensure that the quality of testing provided meets the most rigorous international standards and expectations of customers.

In a statement, EML identified some of the variants which include: SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 (Variant Under Investigation, year 2020, month 12, variant 01), which has been identified through viral genomic sequencing in the United Kingdom (UK); SARS-CoV-2 (501Y.V2 or B.1.351) a new variant discovered in South Africa and defined by multiple non-synonymous mutations in the spike (S) protein and S:P681H a phylogenetically similar but homoplasic variant with a non-synonymous SNP, which was detected by the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Nigeria.