search

While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a sanitary crisis around the world, pharmaceutical companies are going full steam ahead to develop solutions for diagnosing, treating and eventually curing the disease. The FTD SARS-CoV-2 Assay test kit presented by Siemens Healthineers on 2 April 2020 uses the same workflow as the company’s other FTD Respiratory Disease kits. It can be run in laboratories simultaneously with FTD Respiratory Pathogens 21, a molecular syndromic testing panel that identifies 21 different upper respiratory pathogens.

“With this molecular diagnostic assay, we want to make a contribution to fight the current COVID-19 global pandemic by delivering fast and accurate SARS-CoV-2 testing,” said Sebastian Kronmueller, Head of Molecular Diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers. “The Siemens Healthineers assay is designed to help researchers positively identify the virus in less than three hours so that healthcare professionals can proceed as quickly as possible with the necessary next steps on their patients’ triage paths.”

Luxembourg specialist in infectious disease detection kits

The test kit has been developed by Fast Track Diagnostics, a Siemens Healthineers Company located in Esch-sur-Alzette in the south of Luxembourg. Founded in 2007 as a spin-off of one of Luxembourg’s largest medical laboratories, Laboratoires Réunis, the company was acquired by Siemens Healthineers at the end of 2017.

Fast Track Diagnostics specialises in the design, development and manufacture of infectious disease detection kits that use syndromic multiplex real time PCR. FTD assays are validated on clinical samples and detect a comprehensive range of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. They are in routine daily use in over 60 countries worldwide.

Pursuing emergency use approvals

The COVID-19 test kits are already being shipped within the European Union to be used for research only. The company is applying for Emergency Use Assessment and Listing from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for clinical use, as well as for Emergency Use Authorisation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At the same time, Siemens Healthineers is expanding its production capacity.

Read more

LIST and Expon Capital to attract AI companies to Luxembourg

28-03-2024

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology and VC company Expon Capital have joined forces to identify R&D opportunities in artificial intelligence.
Read more

56 days until the 2024 European Digital HealthTech Conference

19-03-2024

Register for a unique conference exploring the challenges of bringing health technologies to the market and their solutions from 14 to 15 May 2024 in Luxembourg. A call for speakers is also open until 16 April.
Read more

International recognition for Fit 4 Start and the LCI

14-03-2024

A publication from the Financial Times and Statista highlights the foundational work carried out by two key organisations in Luxembourg's startup ecosystem.
Read more

Pony.ai to advance autonomous mobility from Luxembourg

07-03-2024

On 6 March 2024, the California-based mobility company signed a memorandum of understanding focused on R&D and deployment of autonomous vehicles in Luxembourg.
Read more

Science-VC partnership spurs Luxembourg healthtech innovation

28-02-2024

The Luxembourg Institute of Health and Catalpa Ventures will support digital health innovation by bridging scientific research and venture capital.
Read more

Resources all news

Fermer