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Can we rely on the Rapid test? 

  • 15. February 202125. February 2021
  • by FundaAcili


Danish below/Dansk nedenunder

Can we trust a Rapid test? What is the difference between a Rapid test and a PCR test?

If these are some of the questions you have asked yourself, we will not blame you. We experience many Danes are victims of ambiguous, deficient, and inaccurate communication facilitated both by the media and the health authorities.

For the moment, we experience that there is not a sufficient and comparable amount of research, which can document for the safety of the Rapid test. A new Danish study has indicated that the Rapid test only captures 70% of the people who were tested positive with PCR (Read here). According to this study, three out of ten people will be tested false-negative with the Rapid test, without taking the population into account, and whether the tested were symptomatic/asymptomatic. In connection with a comparative case with one of our clients, the Rapid test only found 40% of the positive samples. These numbers are also very strong indicators of the analyses and statistics that the American Center for Disease Control (CDC) has found. The CDC found 59 % of false-negative with the use of the Rapid test on asymptomatic people like in Denmark (See here).

Give yourself a few minutes to reflect on the absurdity that we in Denmark have chosen a test strategy that allows the use of such an undocumented and inaccurate test method. Could you, by comparison, consider using contraception that is only 70% safe? 

The most frequently used argument is that one test is better than no test. It is simply a misconception. The argument originates from an understanding that the Rapid test is the only option. Who imagined that there is no alternative to Rapid tests? There are now a lot of providers who can offer reliable test results within a few hours. And no, it is not the same as a result after 15 minutes. But if the consequence of taking a Rapid test is that more people in the workplace become infected with COVID-19 and a department must shut down, would it not be worth waiting a few additional hours to have a reliable test result?
In January, we had a specific case with one of our clients, in which they chose to get 99 of their employees tested. First, with the Rapid test, and then with our PCR test 30 minutes later. The results were frighteningly different. There were 10 positive cases found but the Rapid test only found 4 of them. If the company had trusted the Rapid test blindly, it could have resulted in a lot of new infection chains, financial losses, and the need for a much larger test effort. In these cases, quality always beats quantity.

“Based on our own testing experience with both methods, we prefer to use the PCR test as a standard method when testing our employees”
– Christian Høy-Petersen, Customer Experience Director, DHL (Denmark) A/S.

The Rapid test is most often the guarantor of dangerous false security. The fact that Denmark is currently shut down while companies go bankrupt and money flows out of the state coffers is perhaps an expression that the government and health authorities do not dare to trust the Rapid test themselves. Nor have they been clear and unambiguous in their recommendations of the Rapid test. On the contrary, an expert group at SSI came with the announcement on 2 November 2020 that the Rapid test was far too uncertain for the national test effort to be built around this type of test (Read in Danish here). A few months later, the Rapid test was good to be used because the response times in the public system were so long that the test results were useless before reaching the recipient.

It seems as if the authorities have focused more on not losing face than offering the Danes a way out of the crisis. Has anyone tried to compare the cost to shut down versus the cost to get help from the private providers and upgrade the national PCR test effort keep up? The Rapid test is called an antigen test, which detects viral proteins using a chemical test. In contrast, the PCR test looks for the virus’ RNA and detects down to a single virus particle in a mucus sample. Therefore, it is much more sensitive and thus far more accurate.

It is our experience that many people think the swab collection from the nose is performed only with a Rapid test. We can dispel this myth immediately. Nasal and pharyngeal swabbing are just two different sampling methods but have nothing to do with the test type. You can also choose to be swabbed in the nose when you need to have a PCR test done. Some have the idea that the private PCR tests are not as valid as the ones performed by the state. This is not correct. Our COVID-19 tests are perhaps even faster, more thorough, and more sensitive. These are the kind of misunderstandings which proves our point; that the danish people are underinformed and are fed with COVID-19 tokenism.

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English above / Scroll up for engelsk

Myten om den pålidelige lyntest

Kan jeg stole på en lyntest? Hvad er forskellen på en lyntest og en PCR-test egentlig? 

Hvis det er nogle af de spørgsmål, du har stillet dig selv, bebrejder vi dig ikke. Generelt er danskerne ofre for en masse tvetydig, mangelfuld og upræcis kommunikation faciliteret af både medier og sundhedsmyndigheder.

Faktum er, at der på nuværende tidspunkt ikke findes en tilstrækkelig og sammenlignelig mængde forskning, der kan dokumentere testens sikkerhed. Et nyt dansk studie har indikeret, at lyntesten kun fanger 70% af de personer, som testes positive med PCR  (Læs her).Ifølge dette studie vil tre ud af ti personer altså blive testet falsk negative med lyntesten. Dette uden at tage forbehold for population og hvorvidt personerne var symptomatiske/asymptomatiske på testtidspunktet. I forbindelse med vores egen virksomhedscase fandt lyntesten kun 40% af de positive prøver. Dette tal stemmer ganske godt overens med, hvad amerikanske Center for Disease Control har fundet (Læs her). De kom frem til 59% falsk negative prøver ved brug af lyntests. Dette på asymptomatiske personer, som testen bruges på i Danmark. 

Den omtalte virksomhedscase skal vi nok komme nærmere ind på. Giv dog lige dig selv et par minutter til at reflektere over, hvor absurd det er, at vi i Danmark har valgt en teststrategi, hvor det tillades, at en så udokumenteret og upræcis testmetode tages i brug. 

Kunne du, til sammenligning, finde på at bruge prævention, som kun er 70% sikker?

Det hyppigst anvendte argument er, at nogen test er bedre end ingen test. Det er simpelthen en fejlopfattelse. Argumentet beror tydeligvis på en forståelse af, at lyntest er den eneste mulighed. Dette er på ingen måde tilfældet. Der findes efterhånden en masse udbydere, der kan tilbyde svar inden for få timer og med et resultat, som er til at stole på. Og nej, det er ikke det samme som 15 minutter, men hvis konsekvensen af at tage en lyntest er, at flere på arbejdspladsen bliver smittet med COVID-19 og at en afdeling må lukke ned, er det så ikke værd at vente et par timer ekstra? 

Vi havde i januar en konkret virksomhedscase, hvor en af vores kunder valgte at få testet 99 medarbejdere. Først med lyntest og 30 minutter senere med vores PCR-test. Resultaterne var skræmmende forskellige. Der var i alt 10 positive at finde, men lyntesten fandt kun 4 af dem. Havde virksomheden stolet blindt på lyntesten, kunne det have resulteret i en masse nye smittekæder, økonomiske tab og behov for en langt større testindsats. I disse tilfælde slår kvalitet altid kvantitet.

”Blandt andet på baggrund af vores egne testerfaringer med begge metoder, foretrækker vi klart at anvende PCR-testen som standardmetode, når vi tester vores medarbejdere.”
– Christian Høy-Petersen, Customer Experience Director, DHL Express (Denmark) A/S.

I bund og grund er lyntesten oftest garant for en farlig, falsk tryghed. At Danmark lige nu er lukket ned, mens virksomheder går konkurs, og pengene fosser ud af statskassen, er måske et udtryk for, at regering og sundhedsmyndigheder ikke en gang selv tør stole på lyntesten. De har da heller ikke været klare og entydige i deres anbefalinger af lyntesten. Tværtimod. En ekspertgruppe hos SSI udmeldte den 2. november 2020, at lyntesten var alt for usikker til, at den nationale testindsats kunne bygges op omkring denne testtype (Læs her). Et par måneder senere, da svartiderne i det offentlige var så lange, at testresultaterne var ubrugelige førend, de nåede frem til modtageren, kunne lyntesten lige pludselig godt bruges. Det virker til tider som om, de offentlige myndigheder er gået mere op i ikke at tabe ansigt end at tilbyde danskerne en vej ud af krisen. Har nogen eksempelvis forsøgt at regne lidt på, hvad det havde kostet at opruste den nationale PCR-testindsats med hjælp fra private udbydere holdt op imod, hvad det har kostet samfundet at være lukket ned? 

Tilbage til spørgsmålet vedrørende den konkrete metode- og testmæssige forskel på en lyntest og en PCR-test. Først og fremmest er lyntesten det man kalder en antigentest. Den registrerer virusproteiner ved hjælp af en kemisk test. Derimod leder PCR-testen efter virussens RNA og kan påvise helt ned til én enkelt viruspartikel i en slimprøve. Den er derfor langt mere sensitiv og præcis. Det er vores erfaring, at mange tror, at der er tale om en lyntest, når podningen bliver foretaget i næsen. Denne myte kan vi aflive med det samme. Næse- og svælgpodning er blot to forskellige prøvetagningsmetoder men har ikke noget med testtypen at gøre. Du kan også vælge at blive podet i næsen, når du skal have lavet en PCR-test. 

Der er også nogen, der har fået det indtryk, at de private PCR-tests ikke er så sikre som det offentliges. Dette er bestemt ikke korrekt. Vores tests er, hvis ikke bedre, mindst lige så gode, som dem, de benytter i det offentlige. Vi er bare mere grundige og hurtigere. 

Det nogle af disse misforståelser, der vidner om, at danskerne generelt er underinformerede brikker i et større symbolpolitisk coronaspil. 

Get Tested with Pentabase and avoid 10-day isolation

  • 15. February 20211. March 2021
  • by FundaAcili
Læs på dansk nederst

 

 

 

 

 

 

At PentaBase, we will help both Danish and foreigners avoid 10-days of isolation and a long response time on your PCR test from the public test tents. We deliver your test results with the highest sensitivity and speed within 2 hours, and you will be able to go back to work in no time.

The requirements for testing in connection with entry into Denmark differ according to whether you arrive in Denmark by air, sea, or land border.

When you are arriving in Denmark by air
As a general rule, foreigners and danish residence permit must have obtained a COVID-19 test before entering Denmark. All passengers, including Danish citizens, must show a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a plane to Denmark.

When you are arriving in Denmark by sea or land border
If you are travelling to Denmark by sea or land border, you must present a negative PCR-test for COVID-19 no later than 24 hours after the time of entry. This applies to both Danish residence and foreigners.
However, the Danish authorities restrict entry to Denmark with a COVID-19 test upon arrival and mandatory 10-day isolation to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the more infectious variants. Even with a negative result before departure and upon arrival, you must still quarantine for ten days. However, the isolation may be interrupted with a negative PCR-test taken on the fourth day after arrival.

The Danish authorities restrict entry to Denmark with a COVID-19 test upon arrival and mandatory 10-day isolation to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the more infectious variants. Even with a negative result before departure and upon arrival, you must still quarantine for ten days. However, the isolation may be interrupted with a negative PCR-test taken on the fourth day after arrival.

Read more on the Danish Authorities’ restrictions here.

Click here to book your test at one of our five facilities across Denmark or contact us for options for us to come out to your site.

 

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English above

Hos PentaBase hjælper vi både danskere og udlændinge med at undgå 10 dages isolation ved indrejse. Vi sørger desuden for, at du ikke skal vente længe på dit resultat af PCR-testen, som ofte er tilfældet ved brug af de offentlige hvide telte. Med en markedsledende sensitivitet og hastighed kan vi levere dit testresultat inden for to timer, og du vil derfor, på ingen tid, være klar til at arbejde igen.

Testkravene, i forbindelse med indrejse i Danmark, varierer afhængigt af, om du ankommer til vands, lands eller fra luften.

Ankomst fra luften
Generelt er reglen, at udlændinge og dansk bosiddende personer med opholdstilladelse, skal have en COVID-19-test forud for indrejse i Danmark.

Alle passagerer, inklusiv danske statsborgere, skal kunne fremvise en negativ COVID-19-test, før de stiger på et fly til Danmark.

Ankomst til lands eller vands
Hvis du kommer sejlende eller kørende til Danmark, skal du kunne fremvise en negativ COVID-19 PCR-test senest 24 timer efter din ankomst. Dette gælder både udlændinge og personer bosiddende i Danmark. Desuden kræver de danske myndigheder, at du, ved ankomst, får foretaget en COVID-19-test og går i 10 dages isolation med henblik på at reducere spredningen af SARS-CoV-2 og de mere smitsomme nye varianter. Selvom du, ved ankomst, kan fremvise en negativ test foretaget umiddelbart inden din afrejse, skal du stadig i 10 dages karantæne. Dog vil isolationen kunne afbrydes, såfremt du får et negativt testresultat, med en PCR-test, på 4-dagen efter din ankomst.

Læs mere om de danske myndigheders indrejsekrav her.

Klik her og bestil din test hos en af vores fem teststationer, placeret forskellige i Danmark, eller kontakt os, hvis du vil høre om mulighederne for, at vi kommer ud til din lokation.

Under 1% positive – 2 af 32 positive COVID-19…

  • 9. January 202111. January 2021
  • by Ulf Bech

PentaBase følger udviklingen i COVID-19 og især den danske situation tæt, og er nu klar til at teste for den mere smitsomme variant VOC 202012/01 også kendt som B.1.1.7 eller den Engelske variant. Vi har den seneste uge (1.-7. januar 2021) i alt analyseret 10.561 prøver, hvoraf 94 blev fundet positive, dvs. vi oplever en positivprocent af COVID-19 tilfælde på under 1% blandt både vores private og virksomhedskunder. Vi kan dermed konstatere at vores kunder er bedre til at beskytte sig mod COVID-19 end gennemsnittet.

Trods det relativt lave smittetryk, skaber den Engelske variant dog stor bekymring, fordi sygdommen viser sig at sprede sig endnu hurtigere end den virusvariant der tidligere har været dominerende. Der har også været bekymring om, hvorvidt vaccinerne vil være lige så effektive over for den engelske variant, men Pfizer har i går meldt ud, at det ser ud til at vaccinen også er effektiv for denne variant.

Egentligt, er den engelske variant defineret med 17 mutationer, men interessen samler sig især om to mutationer: N501Y og P681H. N501Y er kendt faktisk fra både England og Sydafrika, men er også fundet i Danmark. Interessen for denne mutation er høj, da den giver øget binding til celler. Man mener derfor at denne variant er mere infektiøs blandt andet pga. den øget binding. P681H mutationen er placeret i et kløvningssted som har biologisk funktion for membranfusion og dermed også potentiel en vigtig rolle i hvor infektiøs virussen er.

Udover disse to mutationer har vi udviklet analyser til to yderligere mutationer kaldet DEL Y144 og DEL 69-70 (kendt fra cluster5 mutationen). Ud af de 32 prøver indeholdte 8 prøver én eller flere af disse fire mutationer. Dette svarer til 25%. Det var dog kun 2 ud af de 32 prøver (alle testet positive på vores laboratorie i Odense mellem d. 2. januar og 7. januar) som bar begge de to signaturmutationer N501Y og P681H for den Engelske variant. Disse personer er nu informeret og myndighederne ligeså.

PentaBase mener at hurtig og sensitiv detektion af SARS-CoV-2 og varianter er nøglen til at håndtere smittespredningen effektivt. Vi er derfor klar med disse analyser fra næste uge på alle vores laboratorier i Danmark og tilbyder alle vores kunder denne analyse af deres positive prøver gratis. Ydermere, hvis Danske hospitaler eller forskningsmiljøer skulle ønske disse, er vi klar til at hjælpe. Derudover vil vi i næste uge udvikle yderligere analyser, så vi også kan teste for nye varianter fundet i Rumænien og Sydafrika.

Det er desuden vigtigt at understrege at PentaBases real-time PCR er fuldt funktionel overfor både de Engelske, Sydafrikanske, Rumænske og Cluster5 varianterne. Vi forventer at kunne rapportere til kunder og myndigheder indenfor 24 timer efter vi finder folk positive for COVID-19, om de bærer én af de ovenfor nævnte varianter.

Ulf Bech Christensen, Direktør, PentaBase

Nye mutationer i SARS-CoV-2 gør sygdommen endnu mere smitsom

  • 3. January 20215. January 2021
  • by Ulf Bech

 

I England har de fundet et nyt cluster af mutationer benævnt B.1.1.7 eller VOC202012/01 (VOC = Variant of Concern). Denne variant blev først fundet, fordi én af de sekvenser (S-sekvensen) man bruger i England i deres Real-time PCR (N, ORF1ab, S) pludselig ikke gav signal. Det er faktisk derfor man bør have mindst to virusspecifikke sekvenser i sit PCR assay, så én vil virke hvis en anden ikke gør pga. mutationer. Efterfølgende sekventering viste at der var en deletion i S-genet, som vi faktisk allerede kendte fra den danske cluster5 variant, der gjorde at der ikke kom signal fra den ene reaktion.

Først vil jeg gerne understrege at PentaBases real-time PCR er fuldt funktionel overfor både den engelske variant og Cluster5 varianten. Vi følger udviklingen og sikrer hele tiden at vores kvalitet er helt i top. Vi har af samme grund udviklet to CE IVD mærkede analyser, så vi altid har en analyse i baghånden, skulle der opstå noget som kompromitterer den ene. Den seneste analyse vi har udviklet, benytter tre sekvenser (IP2, IP4 og E) samt en intern human kontrol og kan give svar på under én time (vi giver svar på under to timer med vores ”super express”-service, da vi også lige skal have tid til at samle et par prøver og rapportere ud). Vi har også udviklet analyser til at detektere Cluster5 varianten, som blev benyttet af SSI, DTU, Rigshospitalet med flere. PentaBase følger den danske situation tæt og udvikler analyser som hjælper Danmark med smitteopsporingen og det at få brudt smittekæder hurtigst muligt.

Teknisk er der flere mutationer, som alt i alt udgør VOC202012/01 varianten. Blandt andre N501Y som er en udskiftning af en aminosyre på spikeproteinet. Varianten har vist øget binding til ACE2 og evne til at invadere celler (forøget smitsomhed). Desuden påvirker P618H udskiftningen et kløvningssite i spikeproteinet. Deletion Δ69-70 påvirker også spikeproteinet, og er altså det som får visse diagnostikvirksomheders probe til at fejle i diagnostikken. Alle disse variationer i spikeproteinet giver grobund til stor bekymring. Ikke alene fordi sygdommen spreder sig endnu hurtigere end tidligere, hvilket kræver endnu bedre og hurtigere smitteopsporing.

Bekymringerne retter sig særligt mod om vaccinerne vil virke, fordi de fleste af de vacciner der er i udvikling, retter sig mod spikeproteinet. Det vides derfor ikke endnu om vaccinerne vil være lige så effektive mod disse varianter, som de er mod den oprindelige variant. Der er dog heller ikke data som siger det modsatte endnu, kun bekymringer. Det er endnu ikke muligt at konkludere hvor farlig den nye variant er, i forhold til den gamle. Fra England ved vi at 12 ud af 1,340 (0.89%) af dem der blev smittet med den nye variant døde indenfor 28 dage efter diagnose, mens 10 ud af 1,360 (0.73%) af dem smittet med wild-type varianten døde. Forskellen er ikke statistisk signifikant (Odds ratio:1.21, p=0.65). Indtil videre ses der ikke en øget risiko for re-infektion (gensmitte) mellem folk der smittes for anden gang om det er med den engelske variant eller med wild-typen. Dette indikerer at der er immunrespons overfor VOC202012/01 varianten ved folk som tidligere har været smittet. Dermed også håb til at vaccinen vil virke.

I dette indlæg vil vi ikke beskæftige os dybere med de i forvejen inferiøre antigentests, andet end at sige at de baserer sig på detektion af spikeproteiner. Vi har endnu ikke set nogle producenter fremlægge data på om antigentesten har samme (dårlige) sensitivitet overfor de nye varianter eller om de er endnu mindre sensitive.

Den nylige fundne virusvariant VOC202012/01 også kendt her hjemme som den Engelske variant
Hos PentaBase har vi analyseret nogle af de SARS-CoV-2 positive prøver vi har fundet i løbet af de sidste par dage. Af de positive prøver var der 68 prøver som umiddelbart kunne analyseres for tilstedeværelsen af deletionen Δ69-70 som er fundet i den ”engelske” variant (VOC202012/01 eller B 1.1.7) af SARS-CoV-2. Af de 68 prøver analyseret var der 15 (22%) som helt sikkert indeholder deletionen Δ69-70, 18 sekvenser som kræver yderligere analyse for at kunne bestemmes med sikkerhed (26%) og 35 prøver som var Wild-type (51%). Dermed tyder det på at antallet af danskere som er smittet med deletionen Δ69-70, som er én af de mutationer der er tilstede i både den danske Cluster5 variant og den nye Engelske mere smitsom variant er stigende.

Vi vil selvfølgelig følge udviklingen nøje og forfine vores målemetoder i de kommende dage, så vi kan blive endnu mere præcise i vores udmeldinger.

Hvis I har behov for at vide mere om positive fund, varianter, testsikkerhed med mere, er I altid velkomne til at kontakte mig på mail info@pentabase.com.

Mvh,

Ulf Bech Christensen
CEO, PentaBase

Denmark need data on RT-PCR vs ANTIGEN tests

  • 31. December 2020
  • by FundaAcili

DENMARK NEED DATA ON RT-PCR vs ANTIGEN TESTS

Over the last few weeks, Denmark has experienced an increase of COVID-19 cases. These cases have risen concern with many citizens that urged to get tested for COVID-19 with a quick response. A quick response can be crucial for stopping the chain of contamination by knowing if you have been infected with coronavirus or not. Generally, there are two solutions today for receiving a fast answer. You can use antigen tests, where samples are taken with a swab inserted 8-10 cm in your nose and then transferred to a quick test (looks like a pregnancy test). In 15-30 minutes, you can have the result. Alternatively, you can have a swab taken from your throat followed by an express RT-PCR test taken at PentaBase, with answering time between 1.5 and 4 hours. 

An expert group led by the director of the State Serum Institute (SSI) stated at the beginning of November that a negative test result from a quick antigen might not be true. Actually, they estimated that there would be approximately 44% false negatives using antigen tests. This contrasts with the companies’ own numbers saying there are +90% specificity and sensitivity. Antigen tests are used on asymptomatic persons in Denmark but are only approved for people with clinical symptoms of COVID-19. We know of one antigen test study done on asymptomatic persons, and it concluded that less than 50% of infected people are found with the use of antigen tests [http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4848].
Despite the huge uncertainty, antigen tests are being used to clear personnel caring for the old and weak in our society. 

Since the SSI’s statement in November, the Danish health authorities began to say that the antigen tests might be better than their first evaluation. At PentaBase, we think that data is urgently needed. False security is in our eyes and is even worse than uncertainty.

Get a free RT-PCR test
Therefore, We hope you will help us create the data. Beginning January 2, we offer a FREE RT-PCR test on the same day for people that had taken an antigen test, for our comparison. Immediately after, we will publish the test-comparison data on our home page. We will need to see your certificate of the antigen test, but you will remain anonymous in the comparison. You will receive a valid RT-PCR COVID-19 certificate from us afterwards. 

In total, we will offer a 5.000 analysis for free. There will be limitations to how many per day, as we will make sure we have enough capacity to help our company customers. Therefore, please book your spot at antigenvspcr@pentabase.com.

We wish you a happy and safe New Year.

Read more “Denmark need data on RT-PCR vs ANTIGEN tests” →

PentaBase responds to the fight against COVID-19 in Denmark

  • 30. October 20202. November 2020
  • by FundaAcili

PentaBase is acting in the fight against COVID-19 infections and makes it easier, more affordable, and quicker for both companies and private people to get tested.

Since the pandemic, we at PentaBase have done everything in our power to help Denmark and its citizens. Currently, Denmark, among many other countries, is experiencing a major increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Today, we are the largest partner for Danish businesses where we ensure workstream can be kept running, despite the challenges of the virus.

Now, the national test facilities experience great stress that demonstrates longer wait time for bookings and response time for test results. This stress demands higher capacity of tests in Denmark.

– We have established a large test capacity, normally exclusively offered to our business customers, but now offered to everyone in need of a quick COVID-19 test – CEO of PentaBase, Ulf Bech Christensen, explains.

At PentaBase, we have chosen to meet the high demand for fast COVID-19 PCR tests by establishing test facilities and laboratories in several parts of the country and increasing the test capacity in Denmark. We have previously focused on stopping infection chains by offering our COVID-19 test service to businesses. However, today, we have chosen to make our tests more accessible to private citizens.

– Due to this, we have lowered our prices from Wednesday, October 28 significantly to make our services available for both private people and businesses. This applies to all our facilities in Denmark – Ulf Bech adds.

All bookings made after October 28 will have the difference from the new prices refunded.

Click here to book a quick test at one of our four facilities.

PentaBase has completed internal validation

  • 30. March 202030. March 2020
  • by Emeli Elisabeth Hansen


Sunday night, the final data was ready.


PentaBase is proud to present that we have completed the internal validation of our first COVID-19 product. By a great effort from the PentaBase employees, we have developed and validated our own test for diagnostics of COVID-19. Since we started, our approach has been to incorporate our own sensitive DNA-technology for improved diagnostics of Coronavirus – and we believe that we have succeeded in this. We haven’t just developed a highly sensitive test, but we have also combined three analyses in a single tube with great success. It is fantastic to be able to reduce the consumption of limiting resources, in a time where less patients are tested due to the lack of reagents (see Figure 1).

Real-time RT PCR multiplex

During the last week, PentaBase has been in close dialogue with collaborators regarding the expansion of the Danish test capacity. Together, we are now planning and designing an approach, which can contribute to an expansion of the tests capacity in the Danish health care system. We are currently testing and comparing PentaBases RNA-purification in the current workflow, which is used in the healthcare system.

Cesilie Madsen

From the beginning, our main focus in this crisis has been to increase the number of Danes that can be screened for Coronavirus in order to contain the spread and minimize the impact on human lives and society. We hope that our technology can contribute to this.

For more information:

Visit our COVID-19 page: www.pentabase.com/covid-19/
Email us at info@pentabase.com
Call us at +45 36 96 94 96

Profile of the month

  • 26. March 20208. April 2020
  • by Emeli Elisabeth Hansen


PentaBase has been named profile of the month by BioPeople – Denmark’s Life Science Cluster


Read the article here: Working to support Denmark combating the COVID-19 disease

Photo: Morten Albek

Our CEO highlights the fact that PentaBase is providing tools to fight against SARS-CoV-2:

”We have communicated broadly about our ability to help out detect COVID 19, because we have technologies and a knowledge that may support healthcare workers, scientists and patients combating the COVID-19 disease: SARS-CoV-2 oligonucleotides, SARS-CoV-2 test assay and instruments for SARS-CoV-2 detection,” Ulf B. Christensen says.

A devoted team of experts is behind PentaBase’s efforts to develop these necessary products:

“At PentaBase every single worker is highly specialised and trained in developing the assays for cancer diagnostics. The company divides the team into different specialised units, each of them experts in their area.”

 

Our chairman has signed up to help Danish authorities…

  • 21. March 202021. March 2020
  • by Ulf Bech

 

As our board is international, PentaBase has canceled all physical board meetings until SARS-CoV-2 is under control and the restrictions on traveling across borders will no longer be into force. Furthermore, our weekly scientific and medical discussions with our chairman of the board are temporarily suspended. He is, of course, still paid by PentaBase and chairman of the board with the responsibilities that follow.

We are proud that he has signed up to help the Danish healthcare system as a volunteer in the fight against Coronavirus. He is a medical doctor of training.

Let’s all do our best to limit the impact of the virus outbreak. Stay healthy.

COVID-19

Eurostars Report

  • 18. December 2019
  • by Emeli Elisabeth Hansen

Our SensiScreen® Lung project has been used as show case in a joint Danish-Swiss impact study by Eurostars.

‘Eurostars promotes international cooperation. The project SensiScreen Lung is one of many examples of how companies, universities and other organizations have joined forces to develop new solutions. In this project PentaBase, a Danish biotech company, collaborated with Danish Technological Institute and Instituto Cantonale Di Patologia, a Swiss reference laboratory. The project ran from 2013 to 2016. There was high expectations for this project. The application received the best evaluation out of 600 applications.’ Eurostars, 2019.

Follow the link to find the full report and see page 38 to read about the PentaBase case.

https://innovationsfonden.dk/sites/default/files/2019-12/eurostars-a-joint-swiss-danish-impact-study_0.pdf

 

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