iXensor, the pioneer of mobile health, declares that its computer vision-powered PixoTest® COVID-19 Antigen Test effectively detects all major SARS-CoV-2 variants including Omicron (B.1.1.529) after completing two validation studies.
In response to emerging new waves of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by Omicron across the globe, iXensor has conducted in-silico analysis followed by a laboratory validation using the recombinant protein of the Omicron variant. The in-silico study evaluated the amino acid sequences of N protein wild type and the Omicron variant (P13L, E31del, R32del, S33del, R203K, G204R), concluding that Omicron is detectable by PixoTest® COVID-19 Antigen Test. Furthermore, in the recombinant protein study, PixoTest® achieves the same limit of detection (0.25ng/ml) on those variants of concern as on the original wild type of SARS-CoV-2 used as a control.
Both study results affirm that the PixoTest® COVID-19 Antigen Test can detect the latest Omicron variant effectively in addition to the previous confirmation on SARS-CoV-2 Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2). Most importantly, the sensitivity of PixoTest® COVID-19 Antigen Test is not affected by the Omicron and other Variants of Concern.
Although vaccines have become widely available, Omicron has a higher chance of causing breakthrough infections and fundamentally changing the landscape of the pandemic across the globe. Rapid tests that cannot detect the Omicron variant make for a worrying prospect because false-negative results could potentially lull people into a false sense of security.
The CEO of iXensor, Dr. Carson Chen, commented “Now more than ever, Omicron-detectable frequent testing remains a critical part of COVID-19 response to keep communities open, employees and students safe, and enable people to resume traveling with less fear.”