A transatlantic alliance between Avacta in Cambridge UK and Adeptrix in Massachusetts has accelerated progress of a new diagnostic test for coronavirus.
A BAMS™ (bead-assisted mass spectrometry) diagnostic test for the COVID-19 infection being developed by the partners has reached prototype stage. They say it can detect the coronavirus spike protein in model samples in the concentration range appropriate for a clinical diagnostic test.
The BAMS assay uses the Affimer reagents specific to the SARS-COV-2 virus recently developed by Avacta to capture the virus spike protein from the sample for rapid detection by mass spectrometry.
Avacta Group Plc (LON:AVCT) offers reagents and therapeutics based on Affimer technology for diagnostic and research applications in the United Kingdom. The company’s custom Affimer products are also used in drugs and biomarkers discovery in biotech research and development.