Advanced! Bio Farma Claims MBioCov-19 PCR Tool, 100 Percent Can Detect Omicron COVID Variants

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JAKARTA - The domestically made mBioCov-19 PCR test kit, the result of a collaboration between PT Bio Farma and Nusantics, is claimed to be able to detect the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus with an accuracy rate of 100 percent.

"Not all tests can detect mutations specifically," said President Director of PT Bio Farma Honesty Basyir in a statement in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, December 8.

Honesty said mBioCov-19 has advantages in detecting variants of the COVID-19 virus. The PCR test equipment can detect the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in both swab and mouth rinse samples.

Based on the in silico test data on 141 sample data from GISAID conducted by Nusantics using mBioCoV-19, Omicron variants can be detected with 100 percent accuracy.

Meanwhile, not all COVID-19 virus test kits on the market can detect the Omicron variant.

"mBioCov-19 has been validated to have an accurate design that is able to detect various mutations and lastly, 100 percent can detect Omicron variants," said Honesty.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Omicron as a variant of concern in late November 2021, after being detected in South Africa.

WHO is still conducting research on Omicron variant mutations and encourages continuous sampling using the PCR method which is the gold standard in virus detection.

CEO and Co-founder of Nusantics, a national biotechnology company that produces PCR-based test kits, Sharlini Eriza Putri, emphasized the importance of using test kits that can detect Omicron variants as a test and tracking effort.

The right and accurate test equipment will provide the data needed by the public and the government so that it can assist in making effective and efficient decisions to suppress the spread of the COVID-19 virus, especially the Omicron variant.

Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Nusantics Revata Utama said that not all COVID-19 test kits on the market today are capable of detecting all variants of the COVID-19 virus.

This is due to the large number of mutations in the target gene regions such as the Nucleocapsid (N) gene and the Spike (S) gene, which can reduce the sensitivity of the COVID-19 test kit.

He said the research and technology capabilities to predict viral mutations used were quite sophisticated, so not all research and development companies had the ability to design and produce test equipment. Nusantics' collaboration with PT Bio Farma began at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

In May 2020, PT Bio Farma and Nusantics launched the first generation of BioCoV-19, followed by the second generation of mBio-Cov-19 in September 2020.

The PCR test kit was able to detect COVID-19 variants, including the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants in swab samples.

In June 2021, PT Bio Farma and Nusantics launched BioSaliva which uses the mouth rinse method, making it comfortable and safe for children and the elderly.

Just like the PCR test kit with the nasal and nasopharyngeal swab method, BioSaliva can also detect COVID-19 variants, including the Delta and Omicron variants.

To date, PT Bio Farma has distributed more than five million mBioCov-19 and BioSaliva kits.