Benzinga | Dec 1, 2021 04:42PM EST

Fulgent Genetics Reports Confirmation Of Ability To Detect Omicron Variant With PCR Tests For COVID-19

Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLGT) ("Fulgent" or the "Company"), a technology-based genetic testing company focused on transforming patient care in oncology, infectious and rare diseases, and reproductive health, today confirmed that the Company's RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can successfully detect the recently emerged Omicron variant of the virus. In addition, Fulgent is confident that its Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) tests for COVID-19 can accurately identify the variant.

The Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) contains approximately 30 mutations and was originally detected in South Africa before subsequently emerging in several African, European and North American countries. The Omicron variant has since been detected in the United States with the first confirmed case of variant identified in California on December 1, 2021. While Fulgent has not yet identified any cases of the Omicron variant, the Company has confirmed that the mutations in the Omicron variant do not affect the assays used in its existing RT-PCR test for the virus. In addition, the Company is confident that its NGS test for COVID-19 will also be able to identify the Omicron variant leveraging Fulgent's proprietary kiloplex primer set with redundant coverage of the viral genome. Fulgent's testing platform leverages an automated system that will immediately identify and flag any potential Omicron samples as soon as the analysis is complete.

"As COVID-19 has continued to challenge us with new mutations and variants, we have continued to take swift action to ensure our customers and their patients are protected with the most accurate testing solutions for the virus," said Brandon Perthuis, Chief Commercial Officer of Fulgent. "We remain diligent and responsive to customers in our ongoing fight against this pandemic."

Fulgent has become a leader in COVID-19 testing having conducted more than 12 million COVID-19 tests for customers since the onset of the pandemic.