COVID-19 RAPID TEST BREAKTHROUGH: SENZO DEVELOPS 7-MINUTE SELF-TEST THAT IS AS ACCURATE AS PCR
PHILADELPHIA, November 9, 2021 (Newswire.com) - Senzo, a leading in vitro diagnostics company, today announced the successful development, and completion of a new 7-minute Covid-19 lateral flow rapid antigen Self-Test with the same accuracy as professional laboratory PCR tests, the industry's gold standard.
In an operator-blind study of 59 positive and 101 negative Covid-19 test samples, across all major variants, the Senzo Amplified Lateral Flow (ALF) test achieved 98.3% positive percent agreement (PPA) and 99.0% negative percent agreement (NPA) with PCR results, and 100.0% positive percent agreement (PPA) for samples with a Ct value between 33 - 38, representing very low levels of target nucleic acid in the sample.
The potential of this technology to positively impact global testing as a continued means to combat the Covid-19 pandemic is considerable. Accurate, rapid, and accessible testing is key to ensuring timely and correct information gathering and decision-making, but current lateral flow tests are not sufficiently accurate (only 57.5% accurate according to independent evaluations conducted by UK NHS Test and Trace professionals) and PCR tests are slow to return results (up to 3 days from test to result). The Senzo Amplified Lateral Flow (ALF) COVID-19 test solves these problems by combining the speed, affordability, and simplicity of a 7-minute lateral flow rapid antigen home-test with the accuracy of professional PCR technology.
Senzo has achieved this breakthrough via a novel process of target isolation and amplification. Unlike other amplification techniques that inadvertently amplify the noise, the proprietary Senzo isolation technique allows ALF technology to amplify the signal from the target (e.g. COVID-19 antigen) without also amplifying the now physically separated, unwanted compounds. This results in dramatically higher amplification and sensitivity— 10,000 times more sensitive than traditional lateral flow tests— detecting the target even when present in very low amounts. It also maximizes specificity by not amplifying and detecting unwanted substances. Senzo's ALF technology allows a rapid lateral flow test to be just as accurate as a PCR test.
Jeremy Stackawitz, CEO of Senzo said "While the technology itself is groundbreaking and transformative, what is really exciting is how this test will immediately improve the COVID-19 testing experience and help with global efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. A new rapid antigen test with the sensitivity of PCR is a game-changer for individuals, families, and communities globally. The only question is how fast we can get Senzo tests in the hands of the people who need them."
"After a considerable period of R&D, it is great for the team to be able to share publicly the breakthroughs we have been working on, and we are excited to see the impact our technology will have on the wider ability to test, trace, and stop the spread of current and future Covid variants," said Aron Rachamim, Founder and President of Senzo.
About Senzo: Senzo is an in vitro diagnostics company developing innovative, accurate, and accessible testing products. Senzo was founded with the vision of utilizing novel technologies, with a focus on enhanced sensitivity, to create mobile, point-of-care products and devices with the ability to accurately, quickly, and cost-effectively conduct testing where healthcare professionals and patients need it most. Senzo is creating game-changing products and systems which bring testing to the patient, eliminating the need for the current slow, expensive central-lab testing paradigms. With insights generated at the point of care, patients can make better decisions faster, and healthcare professionals can identify life-threatening diseases at an earlier stage, improving treatment outcomes and saving lives. All products as described are currently pending regulatory authorisation.
Source: Senzo
