altona expands its range of Ebolavirus kits
altona Diagnostics today announced the launch of the RealStar® Bundibugyo Virus RT‑PCR Kit 1.0 (RUO), a dedicated real-time RT-PCR assay for specific detection of Bundibugyo virus RNA to support filovirus research and outbreak-related investigation workflows. The launch comes in response to the ongoing Ebola disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Three altona filovirus assays
The new assay extends altona’s established filovirus product range, which already includes the RealStar® Filovirus Screen RT-PCR Kit 1.0 (available as CE‑IVD and RUO) for qualitative detection and differentiation of Ebola- and Marburgvirus-specific RNA, and the RealStar® Filovirus Type RT-PCR Kit 2.0 (RUO) for qualitative detection and differentiation of filovirus RNA including five Ebolavirus species, among them Bundibugyo ebolavirus. These products have been referenced in published evaluations and outbreak reports as tools capable of detecting the currently circulating Bundibugyo virus variant.
96 reactions dedicated to Bundibugyo
By focusing the Bundibugyo-specific amplification system into a 96‑reaction RUO format, the RealStar Bundibugyo Virus RT-PCR Kit 1.0 provides a targeted option for laboratories that already have comprehensive strategies in place for screening and typing filoviruses and now require increased testing capacity specifically for the Bundibugyo virus. The new kit can be used within altona’s AltoStar® Molecular Diagnostic Workflow as well as on many open real-time PCR platforms, enabling integration into existing laboratory infrastructures.
