COVID-19 Response

As a global supplier of reagents and assays used in viral testing, Promega is in a unique position to support research and diagnostic testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, we have scaled up a number of our manufacturing processes 10- to 100-fold to meet unprecedented demand for viral testing products. We have also developed new assays to help labs get the answers they need under stressful circumstances. We continue to adapt and innovate in order to meet the changing needs of customers who are supporting the global response to COVID-19.

As of August 2021, Promega has supplied enough reagents and enzymes to test an estimated 850 million samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, and Promega products were used in 30 COVID-19 test kits worldwide. Three Promega products were included in two Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 diagnostic protocols for emergency use: Maxwell® RSC Viral Total Nucleic Acid Purification Kit and Maxwell® 48 Instrument for extracting high-quality RNA from patient samples, and the GoTaq® Probe 1-Step RT-qPCR System for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

In 2020, Promega developed XpressAmp™ Direct Amplification Reagents to accelerate the time to receive test results from PCR testing. The system allows labs to skip the lengthy RNA extraction step, saving valuable time and resources. XpressAmp™ Direct Amplification Reagents only require a 10-minute incubation at room temperature before proceeding with RT-PCR.

Promega also developed the Lumit™ Dx SARS-CoV-2 Immunoassay, a novel approach for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using bioluminescence. Antibody testing is another crucial tool that provides valuable information to patients, clinicians and public health officials.

Finally, Promega is supporting wastewater-based epidemiology with products such as the Maxwell® RSC PureFood GMO and Authentication Kit and the new Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR kit. These assays can be used to detect viral RNA in wastewater, providing population-wide data on the spread of COVID-19. This data can give public health officials an early warning when an outbreak is likely to occur in an area.

Reliable tools and global collaboration are crucial for responding to this pandemic. As scientists develop drugs and vaccines that will help curb the spread of the virus, Promega is prepared to meet the specific needs of these research areas while continuing to support testing in all forms.

Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Americas

Pacific Asia

Europe