Reliably detect Omicron BA.1/3 and BA.2 with ViroQ® SC2 Variant 3

The constant emergence of new variants of the Corona virus is a particular focus of attention with regard to the efficacy of current vaccines. It is therefore particularly important to track which virus variant leads to – in the worst case – severe disease despite vaccination.

Our specific real-time PCR test ViroQ^® SC2 Variant 3 now provides targeted answers as to whether it is the highly contagious Omicron variant. In only 60 minutes it can be reliably tested whether the variant B.1.1.7, B.1.351/P.1, B.1.617.2 or the new Omicron variants BA.1/3 or the more difficult to detect sub-variant BA.2 are present.

The new sub-variant BA.2 itself yields 17 detected mutations to the previously known Omicron variant. However, it can hardly be distinguished from the less infectious Delta variant in conventional PCR tests. This is why BA.2 is often referred to as the "stealth variant". With our new test kit ViroQ^® SC2 Variant 3, the marker mutations typical for BA.2 are detected and differentiated reliably and rapidly.